In response to the recent abduction of 25 students from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, the Nigerian Senate has called on President Bola Tinubu to approve the urgent recruitment of at least 100,000 military personnel to bolster national security.
The Senate also established an ad hoc committee to investigate the funds allocated to the Safe School Initiative and called for the immediate rescue of the abducted students. These actions followed an urgent motion by Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC Kebbi North) concerning the recent kidnapping incident.
Senator Abdullahi emphasized the severity of the situation, describing the abduction and the killing of the school’s Vice Principal by bandits as a significant national challenge that requires immediate attention. He stated, “This is a wake-up call for the country as far as security and safety are concerned, because a nation that cannot secure its children, is not worth living in.”
Senator Abdullahi warned that the continuation of student abductions could severely undermine education and hinder national development. The Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC Borno North), condemned the incident as a heinous act that demands a collective response from all Nigerians.
Senator Francis Fadahunsi (APC Osun East) questioned the persistence of banditry and terrorism despite efforts by the Tinubu administration, cautioning that Nigeria must address these issues to prevent foreign intervention. Senator Sani Musa (APC Niger East) advocated for an increase in military recruitment to secure ungoverned areas exploited by criminals.
Former Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan (APC Yobe North), called for a probe into the Safe School Programme initiated after the 2014 Chibok girls abduction, citing the continued insecurity in schools. He stressed the importance of auditing the funds to understand the lack of tangible results.
After thorough debate, the Senate urged the government to facilitate the rescue of the abducted students and instructed President Tinubu to initiate the recruitment of 100,000 military personnel. Additionally, Senate committees on Finance, Education, and Defence were tasked with investigating the 2014 Safe School Fund.
The Senate observed a minute of silence for the Vice Principal and Brigadier General Uba Musa, who was killed by ISWAP terrorists in Damboa, Borno State. Senate President Godswill Akpabio remarked, “No country is free of crime, not even the United States. But our responsibility is to make laws, pass motions, and take decisions that reduce crime to the barest minimum. Crime is crime; it does not belong to any administration.”
He urged the Armed Forces and all Nigerians to provide information that could assist in securing the students’ release and ensure justice for the victims.
