The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio,has implored President Bola Tinubu to immediately recruit at least 100,000 additional military personnel to strengthen the fight against worsening insecurity across the country.
He made the appeal while mourning the death of the Vice Principal of Government Girls Comprehensive Senior School, Maga, in Kebbi State, Mr. Hassan Makuku who was killed by bandits at the school on Sunday.
He said:“We are in sympathy with what happened. But please be reminded that Nigeria is a very large country with thirty six states and the FCT. Also be reminded that it is not possible to have even one policeman per polling unit during an election, because we don’t have personnel. And then of course our security services are stretched and this people are going to soft targets.
“They go to places that you are not expecting at all. And also there is no society without crime. Even the almighty America has crime on a daily basis, so we must do our best to minimize crime. We sympathize with the families for what they are passing through, we sympathize with the children for what they are passing through.”
Adopting a resolution on a motion of urgent national importance raised by Senator Abdullahi Yahaya (Kebbi North), the Senate lamented that despite the huge resources of the federal government on the armed forces, the nation continue to witness insurgency attacks.
In his motion, Senator Yahaya had reported a recent attack by terrorists on communities in Kebbi South Senatorial District, who invaded a Girls’ Secondary School, abducting 25 students and severely injuring the school’s principal.
He said the repeated attacks on schools not only endanger citizens but deter girls from seeking education even as he recalled a similar abduction in 2022 from another government school in the state, noting that it took four years to rescue the victims.
He also implored President Tinubu to leave no stone unturned in bringing the attackers to justice.
The lawmakers, who expressed outrage over the incident noted that the renewed assault on schools raises questions about whether funds allocated to securing learning environments were properly utilized.
Akpabio, described the pattern of the abductions as a troubling recurrence, recalling the kidnapping of the Chibok girls on the eve of a major election in 2014.
He warned that the latest attacks come at a time when the international community is closely watching Nigeria’s security situation.
The Senate has also set up an ad hoc committee, including the Committee on Finance, to investigate the funding, spending and effectiveness of the Safe School Initiative.
The Senate observed a minute of silence in honour of the vice principal who was killed while attempting to shield students from the terrorists.