The widespread outrage and condemnation following the brutal abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the murder of Brigadier-General Uba in Borno State has reverberated across Nigeria’s political spectrum, with the Senate and the Presidency vowing immediate action to rescue the victims and hold perpetrators accountable.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, addressing the chamber, described the recent surge in abductions and killings as a “troubling recurrence” and reflected on the deepening pattern of insecurity gripping the country. Akpabio observed, “Unfortunately, there is no society without crime. What matters is how the society responds.” He called for coordinated efforts to stem the tide of violence through community cooperation and stronger intelligence.
The Senate session was marked by urgent calls on President Bola Tinubu and the military to intensify restoration of safety, with recommendations for the recruitment of 100,000 additional soldiers to reinforce national security.
President Bola Tinubu has, according to statements from the Presidency, expressed deep sadness about the “heartbreaking incident” despite intelligence warnings preceding the school abductions in Kebbi State.
“I am deeply saddened by the news of the abduction of the 25 students of the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State and the tragic killing of the Vice Principal. This heartbreaking incident is not only an attack on innocent girls and dedicated educators, but also an assault on the values of safety and learning that schools embody,” Tinubu stated in his message, commending Governor Mohammed Nasir Idris for his swift response and reiterating the government’s resolve to “act swiftly and bring the girls back to Kebbi State.”
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, also weighed in, describing the abductions as “heart-breaking” and a direct attack on the moral foundations of the nation’s educational system. She emphasized, “This heart-breaking incident is not only an attack on innocent girls and dedicated educators, but an assault on the values of safety and learning that schools embody.”
The Kebbi State Governor, Mohammed Idris, revealed that the abduction of the schoolgirls was partly due to a failure to act on credible intelligence supplied by the Department of State Services (DSS), describing the incident as sabotage and an urgent call for institutional reforms.
National outrage has further galvanized prominent leaders and advocates. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar noted, “The invasion of the school and abduction of the girls is another sign of Nigeria’s deepening insecurity.” Former presidential candidate Peter Obi, reacting via X (formerly Twitter), called for the government at all levels to urgently strengthen security and protect citizens, especially schoolchildren, and described the Kebbi abduction as “heartbreaking”.
Oby Ezekwesili, co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls movement, said, “Those schoolgirls have no reason to spend one day in the enclave of terrorists. Rescue them immediately to continue with their education in Safe Schools that the State and Federal Governments have a duty to provide.”
Security agencies have intensified search and rescue operations in the affected regions, with federal directives to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore public confidence. The kidnapping and killing have not only underscored the urgent need to secure Nigeria’s schools but have also reignited calls for comprehensive security reforms and robust community intelligence sharing.
