North killings: Reps caucus demands $5bn intervention, military offensive

The House Minority Caucus has called on President Bola Tinubu to allocate $5 billion from the nation's external reserves to address the escalating violence and terrorism in Northern Nigeria. The lawmakers described the attacks as intolerable and demanded sustained intelligence-led military operations to reclaim territories controlled by terrorists and criminal gangs.

They also urged the government to deploy overwhelming force against terrorist hideouts while denying criminals freedom of movement, supply lines, and communications. The caucus emphasized that the primary responsibility of the government is the welfare and security of citizens, and called for an extraordinary national security intervention if funding is an issue.

They cited recent attacks in various Northern states, including Plateau, Niger, Sokoto, Kaduna, and Katsina, where dozens of residents were killed or abducted. The lawmakers urged President Tinubu to replicate the successful strategy used in the rescue mission of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, and called for intensive security operations in affected areas.

They emphasized that the objective should be to restrict the operational space of criminal groups rather than imposing restrictions on innocent citizens. Additionally, the caucus demanded the immediate release of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who has been detained, citing concerns about the credibility of the Federal Government's anti-corruption campaign.