The National Assembly Niger State Caucus has expressed deep concern and profound sorrow over the kidnapping of students of St Mary’s Catholic School in Agwara Local Government Area by armed terrorists.
In a joint statement issued by all twelve lawmakers, the Caucus noted that the tragic incident is a painful reminder of the security challenges confronting Niger State and the country.
“We stand in full solidarity with His Excellency, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, the Government of Niger State, the people of Agwara LGA, the affected families and the entire citizenry of Niger State at this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent children, their parents, teachers and the entire community traumatised by this senseless act.
“As representatives of the good people of Niger State in the Senate and House of Representatives, we strongly condemn this criminal attack and reaffirm our collective resolve to work with security agencies and relevant authorities to ensure the safe and immediate rescue of the abducted students. No child or community in Niger State should be left at the mercy of terror,” the statement read.
The lawmakers said the incident in Agwara underscores the growing insecurity affecting Niger State and parts of Northern Nigeria.
“From bandit attacks and mass abductions to terrorism and communal violence, the rising wave of insecurity continues to endanger lives, disrupt livelihoods,
and destabilise communities,” they stated.
They further noted that the situation in Niger State reflects the broader national security challenge requiring decisive and coordinated action at all levels of government.
“We therefore call for:
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Enhanced military and security deployment across flashpoints in Niger State, especially border communities such as Agwara;
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Strengthened intelligence-gathering and rapid-response mechanisms to prevent and counter attacks;
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Improved inter-agency collaboration and support for community-based security initiatives; and
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Greater federal government intervention to reinforce the efforts of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago and the Niger State Government in restoring peace and safety,” the statement added.
As the Niger State Caucus in the National Assembly, they reaffirmed their commitment to • Engaging the Federal Government and security institutions to prioritise Niger State;
• Advocating increased funding, personnel and operational capacity for security agencies;
• Advancing legislative reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture; and
• Ensuring that the safety and well-being of the people of Niger State remain central to national discourse.
They called on constituents to remain calm, vigilant and supportive of ongoing rescue operations.
“We urge security agencies to intensify their efforts to secure the safe return of the students and bring the perpetrators to justice,” they added.
The lawmakers prayed for God to protect Niger State, safeguard the children, comfort the affected families, and grant lasting peace to Agwara LGA, Niger State, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The statement was signed by:
Sen. Mohammed Sani Musa, CON
Sen. Abubakar Sani Bello
Sen. Peter A. Jiya
Hon. Abdullahi Idris Garba
Hon. Shehu Saleh Rijau
Hon. Abdullahi Mamudu
Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi
Hon. Jafaru Mohammed
Hon. Yusuf Kure Baraje
Hon. Joshua Audu Gana
Hon. Ismaila Musa Modibbo
Hon. Adamu Tanko
Hon. Abubakar Abdu Buba
Lateefah Ibrahim