The Senate has called for the immediate recruitment of 100,000 additional military personnel as part of urgent measures to rescue the 25 students abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State. Lawmakers said the scale of insecurity demands a major expansion of Nigeria’s armed forces to protect citizens, schools, and rural communities across the country.
During its plenary session, the Upper Chamber urged President Bola Tinubu and security agencies to act quickly to secure the safe return of the abducted students. Senators stressed that the President, as Commander-in-Chief, must approve and deploy a significantly larger, fully trained, and well-equipped military workforce to respond to growing security challenges.
They argued that population growth and rising attacks require a stronger defence system that can operate effectively nationwide.
The Senate also moved to investigate the Safe School Programme by establishing an Ad Hoc Committee made up of the Finance, Education, Defence, Army, and Navy committees. The lawmakers said the investigation will focus on the programme’s funding, expenditure, and its real impact on school security. A minute of silence was held in honour of the vice principal killed in the attack, and prayers were offered for the principal who was injured and for the students still being held.
The resolutions followed an urgent motion presented by Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi North), who described how terrorists invaded the school in Maga, located in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area. He explained that despite some police presence, the attackers kidnapped 25 students, killed the vice principal, and wounded the principal.
Abdullahi recalled similar incidents in the state, noting that in one 2022 case, it took four years before kidnapped schoolgirls were recovered.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio condemned the incident, saying the issue of insecurity is not unique to Nigeria. “Terrorism is terrorism. Our responsibility is to make laws, pass motions, and take decisions that reduce crime,” he said. He urged citizens to supply relevant information that could help security agencies rescue the students.
Other lawmakers stressed that Nigeria’s armed forces are overstretched. Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) noted that 177,000 personnel are insufficient for a nation of over 230 million people.
Senator Mohammed Tahir Munguno (APC, Borno North) urged parliament to fully support the President’s security directives, while Senators Francis Fadahunsi and Asuqo Ekpeyong called for stronger coordination, firm ultimatums, and accountability across security agencies to prevent recurring attacks.
