A Lagos lawmaker, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, representing Kosofe Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has raised pressing concerns over the continued rise in kidnappings across the country and the absence of any major arrests, even as abducted schoolchildren are being released in different states.
Her remarks came amid a series of high-profile abductions and subsequent rescues that have dominated national attention in recent weeks. The most recent incident was the release of 24 schoolgirls kidnapped in Maga, Kebbi State, last Monday. The attack occurred at dawn on November 17, shortly after a military detachment reportedly left the area, allowing the terrorists to strike and whisk the girls away.
The Kebbi incident set off fears of a growing trend, as copycat kidnappings were recorded days later in Eruku, Kwara State, and Papiri, Niger State. In Eruku, all 38 abducted victims were released on Sunday after days of uncertainty. That same day, the Niger State chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria confirmed that 50 missing students from a Catholic school had successfully reunited with their families.
Despite multiple successful rescues, however, the public and lawmakers have expressed concern about the lack of accountability. No terrorist suspects have been arrested, paraded, or identified in connection with any of the recent incidents.
Speaking on the floor of the House on Wednesday, Hon. Ogbara questioned why kidnappers continue to evade arrest despite the eventual recovery of victims. She also used the opportunity to renew calls for the creation of State Police, arguing that Nigeria’s centralised security system is overstretched and unable to respond swiftly to rising threats.
“We need our governors to do more. The President cannot be everywhere,” she said. “He cannot be in Sokoto, he cannot be in Zamfara, he cannot be in Ogun, and he cannot be in Lagos, his own state.”
She stressed that while Nigerians are relieved to see children and other victims returned safely, the absence of arrests raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the nation’s security agencies.
“We have seen the children. Where are the kidnappers?” she asked, drawing attention to what she described as a troubling pattern of unresolved criminal operations.
Ogbara urged the federal and state governments to prioritise intelligence gathering, community policing, and proactive security strategies to prevent further attacks. She warned that unless perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted, the cycle of abductions may continue unchecked.
Her concerns echo longstanding calls for comprehensive security sector reform, as communities, schools, and religious institutions continue to face threats from armed groups across the country.
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