Senate tells Tinubu to recruit fresh 100,000 military personnel to fight insecurity

The senate has urged President Bola Tinubu to recruit additional 100,000 military personnel to tackle the growing threat of school abductions across the country.

The senate also during plenary on Tuesday, demanded an immediate investigation into the more than $30 million spent on Nigeria’s Safe-school Programme.

The resolutions followed a motion of urgent national importance moved by Abdullahi Yahaya, senator representing Kebbi north.

The senators were animated by Monday’s abduction of 25 students at the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State by terrorists who also killed the vice-principal and injured a school guard.

The incident prompted calls for a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture and a rigorous audit of funds allocated to school protection since 2014.

Presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the session opened with a sombre review of the attack before lawmakers moved into a closed-door meeting to discuss classified security matters.

A minute’s silence was observed in honour of the slain vice-principal, with prayers offered for the safe return of the abducted students.

Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, criticised the safe school programme, saying billions spent at federal, state and donor levels had failed to protect vulnerable institutions.

“What happened to the money earmarked for the safe school programme? People have turned security into business,” Oshiomhole said.

“We cannot monetise the deaths of our citizens. If these funds were properly used, we should not still be witnessing terrorists walking into schools to kidnap children with ease.”

Oshiomhole also called for urgent recruitment of 100,000 new military personnel, arguing that Nigeria’s current forces are insufficient.

“We don’t have enough men and women in uniform to cover this country,” the former Edo state governor said.

“This recruitment will not only boost our defence capacity but also provide employment for our youth.”

Akpabio supported the probe, saying Nigerians deserve full transparency given repeated attacks on children.

“These criminals are going after soft targets. We must find out why the safe-school programme has failed to protect them,” he said.

Ahmad Lawan, former senate president, warned that Nigeria risks “losing an entire generation” if school attacks continue.