The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, on Wednesday, led a high-powered delegation of the House to Kaduna to commiserate with the government and the people of the state following the abduction of school children in Kuriga community on Thursday, March 7.
Recall that bandits in their large numbers invaded Kuriga and abducted over 280 school children, who were at school for learning, on the morning of the said date.
Concerned by the unfortunate development, Speaker Abbas, who represents Zaria Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, was at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna alongside many of his colleagues, where he met and commiserated with Governor Uba Sani and by extension the people of Kaduna State.
Expressing sadness at the resurgence of kidnappings in the state, which saw the abduction of the school children, Speaker Abbas told Governor Sani that “the House received the news with a big shock.”
Speaker Abbas assured that the House would use all available legislative instruments to partner with the Kaduna State Government and others to come up with solutions that would end insecurity not only in the state but also across the country.
Noting that efforts were ongoing to rescue the school children, the Speaker said, “We thought we had seen the end of kidnappings in Kaduna State, only for it to rear its ugly head in a devastating manner.
“We are very ready to partner with you in coming up with security solutions that will ensure that this kind of thing doesn’t happen again,” he said.
The Speaker commended the governor and members of his cabinet for the measures and policies put in place to nip the resurgence of insecurity in the bud.
He acknowledged the efforts of both the federal and state governments to quickly rescue the children and safely reunite them with their families.
Speaker Abbas also noted that since inauguration in June 2023, the 10th House has prioritised national security as it is the second most important item in the House Legislative Agenda.
On his part, Governor Uba Sani, while thanking the Speaker and his colleagues for the visit to commiserate with the people of Kaduna State, urged the House to revisit the issue of state police.
“We are (also) ready to partner with you, to support you because Nigeria belongs to all of us. The most important thing to any government is the protection of the lives and property of the citizens, and I believe the National Assembly should lead.
“I want to urge the House of Reps to revisit the issue of state police,” Governor Sani said.
The Speaker was accompanied on the visit by the House Leader, Hon. (Prof.) Julius Ihonvbere; Caucus Leaders of both the North and the South in the House, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa and Hon. Nicholas Mutu, and the Deputy Caucus Leader for South, Hon. Babajimi Benson.
Also, part of the delegation were the Leader of the North Central Caucus, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase; Leader of the North East Caucus, Hon. Mukhtar Aliyu Betara; Leader of the North West Caucus, Hon. Sada Soli; Leader of the South West Caucus, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke; Leader of the South East Caucus, Hon. Igariwey Iduma Enwo, and Leader of the South South Caucus, Hon. Agbedi Frederick.
Members of the Kaduna State Caucus in the House, led by the Caucus Leader, Hon. Amos Magaji Gwamna, were also part of the delegation.
