By Our Reporter
The Senate has urged President Bola Tinubu and security agencies to urgently rescue the 25 students abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State.
The lawmakers also called on the President to authorize the recruitment of at least 100,000 additional military personnel to tackle the worsening security situation nationwide.
In a separate resolution, the Senate agreed to establish an ad hoc committee drawn from the Finance, Education, Defence, Army, and Navy committees to investigate the Safe School Programme—its funding, expenditure, and why it has failed to protect schools from attacks.
A minute of silence was observed in honor of the school’s vice principal, who was killed during the attack. The Senate also prayed for the recovery of the injured principal and the safe return of all kidnapped students.
The resolutions followed an urgent motion by Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi North), who recounted how terrorists invaded the school, killed the vice principal, injured the principal, and abducted 25 students. He noted that the attack reflects a disturbing pattern of assaults on schools in the state.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio said insecurity must be confronted collectively, urging citizens with helpful information to assist security agencies. “Terrorism is terrorism, regardless of where it occurs. Our responsibility is to make laws and take decisions that reduce crime to the minimum,” he said.
Several senators also expressed concern over the overstretch of Nigeria’s security forces. Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) warned that with 230 million citizens and only 177,000 security personnel, rural communities remain vulnerable without community support.
Senators Mohammed Tahir Munguno (APC, Borno North), Francis Fadahunsi (APC, Osun East), and Asuquo Ekpeyong (APC, Cross River South) all called for stronger coordination among security agencies and clearer accountability mechanisms to restore public trust.
The Senate’s resolutions emphasize the urgent need to rescue the abducted students, strengthen the armed forces, and ensure transparency in the Safe School Fund.