‎Reps Minority Caucus Gives FG 72-Hour Ultimatum to Rescue Abducted Oyo Schoolchildren

…Demands security overhaul
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‎The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government to secure the rescue of abducted schoolchildren and their teachers in Oyo State.

They also called for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture amid worsening insecurity across the country.
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‎Speaking at a media briefing at the National Assembly on Wednesday, House Minority Leader, Hon. Fred Agbedi, criticized the government’s handling of security challenges and accused the administration of prioritizing politics over governance.
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‎Agbedi described the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in 2025 as a measure allegedly targeted at political opponents rather than addressing the nation’s pressing security concerns.
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‎He urged the Federal Government to move beyond what he termed “propaganda,” and instead invest substantially in intelligence gathering, improve the welfare of security personnel on the frontlines, and ensure accountability among political appointees.
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‎The Minority Caucus also condemned the killing of Major-General Rabe Abubakar while in terrorist captivity in Katsina State, describing the incident as a disturbing indication of the deteriorating security situation in the country.
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‎The lawmakers called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the senior military officer’s abduction and death, insisting that Nigerians deserve answers on how terrorists were able to abduct and kill a serving General.
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‎On the recent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, the caucus demanded the immediate launch of a special military operation to secure their release within 72 hours.
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‎“The era of mass abductions without consequences must end. Terrorists should not be allowed to dictate terms while government merely issues statements without concrete results,” Agbedi said.
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‎The caucus also reacted to the Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, which ordered the deregistration of five political parties. Agbedi described the ruling as a deliberate attempt to create judicial confusion and destabilize Nigeria’s democratic process.
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‎According to him, the judgment represents “rascality taken too far” and poses a threat to participatory democracy. He called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to intervene and address conflicting court judgments relating to political party deregistration in order to protect the integrity of the judiciary.
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‎The opposition lawmakers further urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to resist any attempt to undermine democracy, warning that the opposition would reject any process capable of compromising the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
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‎The caucus also called on President Tinubu to suspend all political activities related to the 2027 elections and focus on governance by declaring a six-month National Security and Economic Recovery Plan.
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‎According to the lawmakers, safeguarding the lives and welfare of Nigerians should remain the administration’s foremost priority.
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‎“Politics must take the back seat when the nation is bleeding. The government exists primarily for the security and welfare of the people,” the caucus stated
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‎The Minority Caucus, however, urged Nigerians not to lose hope, expressing confidence that the outcome of the 2027 general election would ultimately be determined by the electorate rather than political influence or judicial manipulation.