Nigerian Lawmakers Demand Security Surge After Taraba Bandit Attacks
The Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives demanded urgent security deployments and humanitarian aid following bandit attacks in Taraba State that killed up to 80 people.
The Senate of Nigeria and the House of Representatives have demanded an urgent security offensive and humanitarian intervention following a series of bandit attacks in Taraba State. On October 23, gunmen reportedly crossed from Plateau State into the Binnari community of Karim Lamido Local Government Area, firing sporadically and looting shops after Jumu’ah prayers. While the House of Representatives estimated the death toll between 57 and 60, the Senate cited approximately 80 fatalities.
Lawmakers urged security agencies to deploy additional personnel and establish new security camps along the borders of Taraba, Plateau, and Bauchi states to improve surveillance. The Senate specifically called on the National Emergency Management Agency and the North-East Development Commission to provide immediate relief to displaced residents. In the House, members pushed for the completion of the abandoned Wase-Karim Lamido road project to improve security access, noting a subsequent attack on October 26 in the Gomben Dela community that resulted in looting but no deaths.
The attacks sparked a debate over government efficacy. Minority Leader Fredrick Agbedi criticized the state's response as reactive, while Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu defended the administration, citing a ₦5.4 trillion security budget for 2026 and a decline in insurgent-controlled areas. The Senate observed a one-minute silence for the victims, emphasizing that protecting lives and property is the government's primary constitutional responsibility.
