The Senate has condemned the recent abduction of students and teachers in Borno and Oyo States, describing the incidents as a direct attack on Nigeria’s future and a major setback to national development.
Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, in a statement issued in Abuja, said the kidnappings highlight the urgent need to strengthen the country’s security architecture, including the proposed creation of state police.
The Senate leader noted that the attacks included the abduction of about 45 pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, as well as 42 students during a Boko Haram raid on Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
Bamidele said the continued targeting of schools is unacceptable and warned that such incidents worsen Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis, currently estimated at over 18 million.
He explained that the 10th National Assembly is already advancing constitutional amendments that will enable the establishment of state police, stressing that the proposal would require approval from two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly before it becomes law.
According to him, the Senate will also prioritize amendments to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, aimed at strengthening the justice system and deterring violent crimes across the country.
Bamidele urged state governments and lawmakers to support the security reforms without political or ethnic considerations, saying the current security situation demands urgent and collective action.
He also called for full implementation of the Safe School Initiative as an immediate measure to protect educational institutions and reduce vulnerability to attacks.
The Senate Leader assured that the National Assembly remains committed to supporting policies and legislation that will improve national security, protect lives, and restore public confidence in government institutions nationwide.
