A senior lawmaker of Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhassan Ado Doguwa, on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, delivered a scathing critique of the country's deteriorating security situation during a plenary session of the House of Representatives presided over by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen.
Doguwa, representing Tudun Wada/Doguwa Federal Constituency in Kano State, described the prevailing wave of killings, kidnappings, banditry, and violent crime as “unacceptable,” “horrific,” “tragic,” and “devastating,” particularly in northern Nigeria. He insisted that the scale and persistence of the crisis demand an urgent, extraordinary, and unconventional response from the National Assembly and all tiers of government.
Speaking as a loyal member of the ruling party, Doguwa emphasized that his intervention was not partisan opposition but responsible internal criticism. “I am not an opposition. I am a member of the APC, the ruling party, and by extension a member of this government,” he declared. “But I will speak as an APC member with a particular concern.”
While acknowledging the efforts of President Bola Tinubu's administration and the security agencies, Doguwa bluntly stated that those efforts fall short of what the situation requires. “Yes, the government is doing its best. The security agencies are doing their best,” he said. “But with every sense of responsibility and without fear of equivocation, their best is not good enough.”
He painted a grim picture of communities living under constant fear, with attacks now commonplace in both rural and urban areas. Citizens, he said, can no longer travel freely, farm their lands, or sleep peacefully due to the pervasive threat of violence.
Doguwa highlighted the worsening situation in his home state of Kano, particularly the southern axis including the Polgore area. “What used to be a tourist attraction has now become like an extension of Sambisa Forest,” he lamented. “Kidnappings have become a daily occurrence, like a prescribed drug taken morning, afternoon and night.”
To address the crisis, the lawmaker proposed a multi-layered approach that combines stronger federal action with empowered grassroots responses. He urged lawmakers to return to their constituencies and reorganize community vigilante groups, arguing that organized local security structures are essential to complement federal forces. “We should go back to our constituencies and reorganise vigilante groups. We must take charge of civil efforts to salvage and protect our country,” he said.
Doguwa's intervention formed part of a broader debate in the House on escalating nationwide violence, with lawmakers from various parties echoing calls for more decisive and rapid measures to protect lives and property. Several members highlighted specific flashpoints, including persistent banditry in the North-West, farmer-herder clashes, cultism in the South-South, and separatist agitations in parts of the South-East.
Despite his sharp criticism, Doguwa reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC and the Tinubu administration's “Renewed Hope” agenda. “I have not lost hope in the Renewed Hope agenda. I remain a proud member of the APC,” he stated, signaling that his remarks were intended to spur improvement rather than undermine the government.
The speech has sparked significant reactions across political and civil society circles in Nigeria. Supporters praised Doguwa for his candor and willingness to speak truth to power from within the ruling party, viewing it as a sign of internal accountability. Critics of the administration seized on his words as validation of widespread public frustration with insecurity, while some ruling party loyalists cautioned against language that could be perceived as demoralizing to security forces or the government.
Nigeria has struggled with multifaceted security challenges for over a decade, including Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgency in the North-East, widespread banditry and kidnapping in the North-West, separatist violence in the South-East, and communal clashes in the Middle Belt. Despite military operations, community policing initiatives, and substantial budgetary allocations to defense and security, many Nigerians report feeling less safe than in previous years, with kidnappings for ransom now a near-daily occurrence in several states.
Doguwa's call for revived and better-organized vigilante groups revives debate over the role of local security outfits such as Hisbah in Kano, Amotekun in the South-West, and various hunter groups in the North. Proponents argue these structures provide essential intelligence and rapid response in areas where federal forces are overstretched; critics warn of risks including human rights abuses, ethnic bias, and potential weaponization for political ends.
As the House of Representatives continues deliberations on security, Doguwa's intervention underscores growing pressure—even from within the ruling coalition—for bolder legislative action, including possible constitutional amendments to strengthen state and local security powers, increased funding oversight, and accelerated judicial reforms to tackle impunity.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the persistence of insecurity remains one of the most politically charged issues in Nigeria, directly affecting public confidence, economic activity, food security, and national cohesion.
