The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to urgently establish permanent military formations at the Kiri axis in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area and the Ayere-Akunu border axis in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State to tackle the growing menace of banditry, terrorism and kidnapping in the area.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by the member representing Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency, Hon. (Arc.) Salman Idris, during plenary.
Moving the motion, Idris said the Kiri and Ayere-Akunu corridors occupy strategic positions as major transit routes linking the North-Central region with the South-West and other southern parts of the country, making them vulnerable to criminal activities.
He noted that the rugged and expansive forest belts stretching across Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, Ondo and Edo states had become safe havens for heavily armed bandits and terrorist groups, who launch coordinated attacks, establish operational camps, and carry out kidnappings for ransom.
According to the lawmaker, the absence of a permanent military presence has enabled the criminal elements to entrench themselves, leaving residents, commuters, and farmers exposed to constant attacks.
He expressed concern that many farmers had abandoned their farmlands due to insecurity, worsening food production and threatening the livelihoods of predominantly agrarian communities in the affected areas.
Idris acknowledged the efforts of Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo and the state’s joint security task force in combating insecurity but stressed that the scale of the threat required greater federal intervention backed by superior military capability.
He cited the recent elimination of a notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Ibrahim Battijo, during a joint security operation that foiled an attempt to abduct students writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination at Government Secondary School, Iluke, as evidence that sustained military operations could significantly weaken criminal networks.
Following the debate, the House urged the Federal Government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Ministry of Defence, and the Chief of Army Staff, to establish permanent military formations at the Kiri and Ayere-Akunu axes.
The lawmakers also directed the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector-General of Police to immediately deploy a well-equipped joint tactical force to comb the affected forests, dismantle criminal camps, and rescue victims held in captivity.
In addition, the House mandated its Committees on Defence, Army, Police Affairs and National Security and Intelligence to monitor the implementation of the resolutions and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
