The Senate erupted in outrage on Tuesday following the kidnapping of 25 schoolgirls from Authorities Women’ Complete Secondary Faculty, Maga, within the Danko-Wasagu Native Authorities Space of Kebbi State.
Lawmakers described the assault—throughout which terrorists stormed the college round 4 p.m., killed the vice-principal and wounded the principal—as a nationwide tragedy that additional exposes Nigeria’s deepening safety failures.
In its resolutions, the higher chamber urged President Bola Tinubu to instantly recruit not less than 100,000 further troopers into the Nigerian Military to bolster overstretched forces. It additionally ordered a full investigation into the Secure Faculty Programme, together with how funds have been launched, to whom, and what was truly applied.
Transferring the movement, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North) condemned the kidnapping as one other “heinous assault” on the nation’s instructional system, mirroring an analogous incident in Kebbi in 2022.
“This can be a slap within the face of our nation,” he mentioned. “Dad and mom are shedding confidence in sending their kids to highschool. What sort of nation can not shield its kids?”
Abdullahi referred to as for an pressing rescue mission and a minute of silence in honour of the slain vice-principal.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole moved further prayers urging President Tinubu to ramp up army recruitment.
With Nigeria’s inhabitants rising at greater than three per cent yearly, he argued, the present safety manpower is grossly insufficient. He additionally referred to as for a forensic probe of the Secure Faculty Programme.
“It seems some people have turned safety right into a enterprise—benefiting from appropriations whereas kids stay uncovered to hazard,” he mentioned.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio backed the investigation, insisting Nigerians deserve full transparency.
“These criminals are concentrating on delicate spots,” he mentioned. “We should discover out why the Secure Faculty Programme has failed.”
Former Plateau Governor Simon Lalong mentioned expertise should now drive rescue efforts.
“These ladies have been kidnapped yesterday. They didn’t vanish into skinny air. They’re someplace, being moved round,” he mentioned.
“With fashionable monitoring instruments, you’ll be able to find them from far distances. If we waste time, they’ll be past attain.”
Lalong urged safety companies to deploy mapping, surveillance, and real-time monitoring, stressing that manpower alone can not cowl each inch of Nigerian territory.
The senator additionally expressed concern over repeated assaults concentrating on ladies.
“This felony act is sort of all the time directed on the woman baby,” he mentioned, recalling the ordeals of Chibok and Leah Sharibu.
He demanded a full evaluate of the Secure Faculty Programme, as soon as funded by the World Financial institution, and argued for a nationwide safety emergency to forestall additional assaults on ladies’ schooling.
Senator Mohammed Tahir Munguno (Borno North) described the kidnapping as a direct assault on the Nigerian state.
“Residents give up a part of their sovereignty to authorities in alternate for security. That social contract has been damaged repeatedly,” he mentioned.
Senator Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East) lamented the normalisation of college kidnappings.
“Safety companies are working in silos, and this disjointed method is costing lives,” he mentioned.
Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong mentioned it was “heartbreaking and gut-wrenching” that Nigeria has failed for greater than a decade to safe college students from terrorism.
“Our youngsters usually are not protected. A nation that can’t shield its pupils can not declare to be a functioning state,” he mentioned.
Senator Mohammed Sani Musa (Niger East) mentioned the nation lacks the safety manpower required to police its huge territory.
“With solely 177,000 army personnel, it’s unimaginable to safe each faculty, village, forest, and freeway,” he mentioned.
He referred to as for group participation, intelligence sharing, and accountability to enhance authorities efforts.
Former Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal urged states to reassess the vulnerability of faculties.
“Safety is the inspiration of group life,” he mentioned. “Throughout my tenure, we relocated faculties and merged boarding services for security. Kebbi should take into account related actions.”
Tambuwal warned that insecurity now transcends boundaries and requires a coordinated nationwide response supported by political will and sufficient assets.
Senator Abdul Ningi mentioned Nigeria is dealing with an existential menace.
“This isn’t the time for appeasement,” he mentioned. “Lives are being shattered day by day. If any of us had a daughter in captivity, we’d not be speaking about negotiating with terrorists.”
The Senate established an advert hoc committee comprising the Committees on Finance, Defence, Military, Air Power, Schooling, and Police Affairs to analyze all appropriations and expenditures linked to the Secure Faculty Programme.
The committee is remitted to find out why faculties stay weak regardless of years of serious funding.
Akpabio additionally warned in opposition to framing the Kebbi assault by way of spiritual lenses, saying, “Crime is crime. It doesn’t matter below which administration it happens. We should rescue our ladies.”
Safety forces have begun search-and-rescue operations, however senators warned that with out manpower growth, accountability, and technology-driven methods, Nigeria will proceed to expertise related tragedies.
Tuesday’s debate marked one of many strongest bipartisan condemnations of insecurity in months.
Lawmakers are anticipated to formalise resolutions urging the President to accentuate rescue operations, overhaul faculty safety nationwide, and take into account a large recruitment drive into the armed forces.
Because the nation awaits updates on the kidnapped college students, senators warned that until pressing and decisive steps are taken, Nigeria dangers additional eroding public belief in its faculties and safety establishments.
