The Senate has asked President Bola Tinubu to approve the emergency recruitment of at least 100000 military personnel in response to the abduction of 25 students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School Maga in Kebbi State.
Lawmakers also created an adhoc committee to investigate spending on the Safe School Initiative and called for swift rescue efforts for the abducted students. The resolutions followed an urgent motion by Senator Yahaya Abdullahi of Kebbi North.
Presenting the motion, Abdullahi described the abduction and the killing of the school Vice Principal as a grave affront to the nation that requires immediate action. He stated that a country unable to protect its children is failing in its basic duty.
He warned that continued attacks on schools will discourage young Nigerians from pursuing education and hinder national development.
Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Tahir Monguno condemned the incident as a despicable act that Nigerians must confront collectively. Senator Francis Fadahunsi questioned why banditry and terrorism persist despite government efforts, cautioning that the problem must be resolved before foreign powers decide to intervene. According to him, President Tinubu faces rising challenges even as kidnapping continues to spread.
Senator Sani Musa argued that effective counteraction against banditry and terrorism requires a significant increase in military personnel to secure ungoverned spaces exploited by criminal groups.
Former Senate President Ahmad Lawan called for a full review of the Safe School Programme launched after the Chibok abduction in 2014. He stated that schools remain unsafe and that funds allocated to the initiative must be examined to understand why expected results have not materialised.
After debate, the Senate urged the military to immediately begin recruiting at least 100000 officers and soldiers to strengthen operations against insecurity. Committees on Finance Education and Defence were directed to investigate the Safe School funds.
A minute of silence was held for the slain Vice Principal and for Brigadier General Uba Musa who was killed by ISWAP in Borno State.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio said no nation is entirely free of crime and stressed that the legislature is responsible for decisions that can reduce criminal activity. He urged citizens and the Armed Forces to provide any helpful information that could aid the rescue of the abducted students and ensure justice for victims.
