Kebbi attack: Senate urges Tinubu to recruit 100,000 troops

The Senate has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct the Nigerian Armed Forces to immediately recruit at least 100,000 additional personnel to bolster the fight against escalating insecurity across the country.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent national importance raised by Senator Abdullahi Yahaya (Kebbi North), who highlighted the recent terrorist attack in Kebbi South Senatorial District, where assailants invaded a girls’ secondary school, abducted 25 students, killed the school’s vice principal, Malami Hassan Yakubu Makuku, and severely injured others before fleeing with the students.

Describing the incident as a “slap on the face of our nation,” Yahaya lamented that repeated attacks on schools not only endanger citizens but also discourage girls from pursuing education.

He recalled a similar abduction in 2022 at another government school in the state, noting that it took four years to secure the victims’ release.

“This terrorism targeting students must stop,” he said, urging security agencies to track down the perpetrators without delay. He also appealed to President Tinubu to leave no stone unturned in bringing the attackers to justice.

In response, the Senate announced the establishment of an ad hoc committee, including members of the Committee on Finance, to investigate the funding, spending, and effectiveness of the Safe Schools Initiative.

The Lawmakers expressed outrage over the incident, questioning whether funds allocated to securing learning environments were properly utilized.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the abductions as a troubling recurrence, recalling the 2014 Chibok girls’ kidnapping on the eve of a major election. He warned that the latest attacks come at a time when the international community is closely monitoring Nigeria’s security situation.

The Senate concluded the session with a minute of silence in honour of the vice principal, who was killed while attempting to shield students from the terrorists.