The Senate has strongly condemned the abduction of 87 students and teachers in separate attacks in Borno and Oyo states, describing the incidents as a serious threat to Nigeria’s future.
Senate Leader, , made this known in a statement issued on Sunday through the Senate’s Directorate of Media and Public Affairs. He expressed concern that such attacks were still happening despite the over $30 million raised globally in 2014 to improve security in schools across the country.
In Oyo State, suspected gunmen reportedly abducted 45 students and teachers on Friday from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School, and L.A Primary School in Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area.
Around the same period, suspected insurgents attacked Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, kidnapping 42 students.
Bamidele, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, said the incidents further highlighted the need for the establishment of state police across the country.
According to him, the 10th National Assembly is already at an advanced stage in the constitutional amendment process aimed at creating state police structures. He explained that once the National Assembly completes its work, the proposal would be forwarded to state Houses of Assembly, where it must secure approval from at least two-thirds of lawmakers before becoming operational.
The Senate leader urged state governments and legislatures to treat the state police proposal as a national priority rather than a political or ethnic issue.
While awaiting the implementation of state police, Bamidele advised both federal and state governments to strengthen the Safe School Initiative to better protect learning institutions. He also noted that Nigeria currently has about 18.3 million out-of-school children.
He described the repeated abduction of students and teachers as a tragic development capable of undermining national growth and educational progress.
Bamidele added that the National Assembly would intensify legislative efforts against insecurity once plenary resumes on June 2. He said part of the effort includes ongoing amendments to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, aimed at strengthening the justice system and discouraging violent crimes nationwide.
