Kebbi Attack: Senate Tells Tinubu to Recruit 100,000 Soldiers, Set to Probe $30M Safe-School Funds

The Nigerian Senate has called for an immediate investigation into over $30 million spent on the country’s safe-school programme and urged President Bola Tinubu to approve the recruitment of 100,000 additional military personnel. The resolutions followed a motion of urgent national importance by Abdullahi Yahaya, senator for Kebbi North, in response to Monday’s attack on Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State. The assault left the vice-principal dead, a school guard wounded, and 25 students abducted despite the presence of police.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio opened the session with a sombre review of the attack, observing a minute of silence for the slain vice-principal and offering prayers for the safe return of the abducted students. Lawmakers later moved into a closed-door session to discuss classified security matters.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole criticised the safe-school programme, noting that billions of naira spent by federal, state, and donor agencies have failed to protect schools. He stressed that more military personnel are needed to secure the country and provide youth employment. Akpabio supported a full probe, saying Nigerians deserve transparency given repeated attacks on children.

Other senators highlighted the broader security challenges. Ahmad Lawan warned of the risk of “losing an entire generation” if school attacks persist, while Orji Kalu called on state governments to share responsibility for security. Victor Umeh urged the deployment of technology-driven intelligence to locate abducted students. Simon Lalong questioned the effectiveness of the World Bank–supported safe-school initiative, drawing parallels with the 2014 Chibok abductions, and Sani Musa called for greater involvement of community leaders in intelligence gathering.

The Senate resolved to establish an ad hoc committee combining finance, defence, army, air force, education, and police affairs committees to audit all appropriations and expenditures under the safe-school programme. It also adopted a motion demanding the recruitment of 100,000 youths into the armed forces and the deployment of modern surveillance and intelligence technology to tackle insecurity.