Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has condemned the abduction of the Deputy Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Hon. Samaila Bambu, describing the incident as “shocking and distressing” and a reflection of Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.
In a statement on Saturday, the lawmaker representing Abia North Senatorial District expressed sympathy to the government and people of Kebbi State and urged the Federal Government to take more decisive and coordinated steps to tackle the escalating wave of kidnappings, insurgency, and banditry across the country.
“This incident in Kebbi once again shows that insecurity has become a nationwide problem that must be confronted without politics or bias,” Kalu said. “I have said it several times — the Federal Government must take stronger, more coordinated steps to protect Nigerians. We cannot continue like this.”
While commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his ongoing efforts to restore peace and stability, Kalu emphasized that good intentions alone were no longer enough.
“The President is determined to build a safer and better Nigeria,” Kalu noted. “But this commitment must be matched with bold and sustained action at all levels of governance. Nigerians deserve to feel safe in their homes and communities.”
Confirming the development, the Chief Press Secretary to the Kebbi State Governor, Ahmed Idris, said the government had received reports of the abduction and was working closely with security agencies to verify details and ensure the lawmaker’s safe return.
“Yes, I just got the information about the alleged abduction of the Deputy Speaker in his hometown this evening,” Idris said. “I am already in touch with the Director of Security in the state. Once I get the full details of what transpired, I will brief the public on the government’s position.”
He assured that the state government was “on top of the situation” and that efforts were underway to rescue the abducted legislator unharmed.
Sources in Bagudo, the Deputy Speaker’s hometown, told reporters that gunmen stormed the area around 8:00 p.m. on Friday, firing sporadically and causing widespread panic. Eyewitnesses said the lawmaker was seized shortly after observing evening prayers and was taken away under the cover of darkness.
Reacting to the broader security situation, Senator Kalu warned that the continued deterioration of safety across the country could have grave consequences if left unchecked.
“The issue of insecurity should not be handled with politics but with the seriousness it deserves,” he said. “The situation is deteriorating, and urgent action is needed.”
Kalu, who chairs the Senate Committee on the South-East Development Commission, recalled his earlier warning following Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum’s statement that insurgents were regaining control of parts of his state.
“The Minister of Information may mean well, but the truth is that Governor Zulum is right,” Kalu had said at the time. “If we fail to act decisively in Borno and the South-East, these regions could be completely overrun.”
He also urged the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, to ensure that President Tinubu receives an honest and full briefing on the true security realities nationwide.
Kalu, a former governor of Abia State, praised the Nigerian Army, Police, and other security agencies for their continued efforts to combat terrorism and criminality, even under challenging circumstances, while calling for greater inter-agency coordination and better intelligence sharing.
“Our security forces are doing their best, but they need stronger political will, adequate support, and better synergy to succeed,” he said.
The abduction of the Kebbi Deputy Speaker adds to a growing list of high-profile kidnappings and violent attacks targeting public officials, traditional rulers, and private citizens across the country — a grim reminder, analysts say, of Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
