Kebbi Attack: Senate Calls on Tinubu to Enlist 100,000 New Troops

Table of Contents

• Senate's Call to Action
• Urgent Motion Raised
• Impact on Education
• Previous Abduction Incident
• Response and Investigation
• Outrage and Concerns
• Minute of Silence

The Senate has urged President Bola Tinubu to instruct the Nigerian Armed Forces to urgently recruit at least 100,000 additional personnel to strengthen the fight against the growing insecurity across the nation.

This resolution was prompted by a motion of urgent national importance presented by Senator Abdullahi Yahaya (Kebbi North), who brought attention to the recent terrorist attack in the Kebbi South Senatorial District. During this attack, assailants invaded a girls’ secondary school, abducted 25 students, killed the school’s vice principal, Malami Hassan Yakubu Makuku, and seriously injured others before fleeing with the students.

Yahaya described the incident as a “slap in the face of our nation,” expressing concern that repeated attacks on educational institutions not only jeopardize the safety of citizens but also deter girls from pursuing their education.

He recalled a similar incident in 2022 at another government school within the state, emphasizing that it took four years to secure the release of the victims.

“This act of terrorism targeting students must come to an end,” he stated, urging security agencies to swiftly apprehend the culprits. He also called on President Tinubu to exhaust all efforts in ensuring that the attackers face justice.

In response, the Senate announced the formation of an ad hoc committee, which will include members of the Committee on Finance, to investigate the funding, expenditure, and effectiveness of the Safe Schools Initiative.

The lawmakers expressed their outrage over the incident, questioning whether the funds allocated for securing educational environments were utilized properly.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio characterized the abductions as a disturbing trend, recalling the 2014 kidnapping of the Chibok girls just before a major election. He cautioned that the recent attacks occur at a time when the international community is closely observing Nigeria’s security situation.

The Senate concluded the session with a moment of silence in honor of the vice principal, who was killed while trying to protect the students from the terrorists.