The Niger State House of Assembly has issued a stern warning that it may suspend legislative sittings if the state government and security agencies fail to urgently address the escalating insecurity across the state.
Lawmakers described the situation as “a siege of banditry and terrorism”, noting that attacks, displacement and abductions have become routine, leaving citizens increasingly fearful and unprotected.
The decision followed a motion of urgent public importance presented by Hon. Mohammed Nura Agwara, member representing Agwara constituency, who raised alarm over the recent abduction of students from St. Mary’s Catholic Missionary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government. The Assembly unanimously condemned the incident, stating that insecurity has reached an intolerable point.
Presiding over the plenary, Speaker Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkindaji said the House may have no choice but to halt legislative business entirely if no concrete response is seen soon. “We cannot pretend that everything is normal. Niger is now a reference point for insecurity, investors are pulling out, contractors have abandoned projects, and more than 50 communities, including my own ward, have been displaced”, the Speaker said.
He added that farmers who once harvested hundreds of bags of grain now depend on charity to survive. Sarkindaji insisted that if schools and markets can be shut down due to insecurity, the legislature may equally suspend operations in solidarity with citizens who live in constant danger.
The Speaker further criticised security agencies for failing to act on known bandit movement corridors, expressing fear that the abducted students may already be in transit through these routes into neighbouring Zamfara State.
At the close of debate, the House resolved to demand immediate mobilisation of security forces for the rescue of the students, push for deployment of troops to critical flashpoints, and work with federal lawmakers to escalate the matter to the National Assembly. Members also reaffirmed that suspension of plenary remains an option if no urgent action follows.
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