The Nigerian Senate has called on President Bola Tinubu to approve the recruitment of 100,000 additional military personnel to tackle escalating insecurity, especially in regions affected by school abductions and insurgency.
This demand came alongside a push for a comprehensive investigation into the Safe School Programme, following criticism of how funds allocated for safeguarding schools have been used.
The motion, initiated by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, was triggered by the recent attack on Government Girls’ Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, where 25 students were abducted and the vice principal was killed.
In response, Senate President Godswill Akpabio presided over a closed-door session and backed the call for both the security expansion and the probe.
The Senate resolved to set up an ad hoc committee, pulling in members across its key committees—Defense, Finance, Army, Education, and Police—to audit the Safe School spending, review oversight mechanisms, and recommend reforms to stop future exploitations.
Akpabio also cautioned against politicizing the issue, applying strong rhetoric that “crime is crime” and stressing unity to protect vulnerable schoolchildren.
