The Senate has strongly condemned the recent abductions of 87 students and teachers across Borno and Oyo states. In light of these coordinated attacks, the upper legislative chamber has pledged to fast-track constitutional amendments to establish state police forces nationwide to bolster the country’s security architecture.
The twin incidents occurred within a 24-hour window:
Oyo State: Suspected gunmen abducted 45 students and teachers from Baptist Nursery and Primary School (Yawota), Community Grammar School, and L.A. Primary School (Esiele) in the Oriire Local Government Area.
Borno State: Boko Haram terrorists attacked Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in the Askira/Uba Local Government Area, abducting 42 students.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) described the abductions as a direct assault on Nigeria’s future. He expressed deep concern that such vulnerabilities persist despite the $30 million globally raised in 2014 to secure the nation’s educational institutions.
“The recurring abductions of students and teachers is a tragic national concern that negates our development indices. We cannot and must not allow it to continue. At the National Assembly, we will rise against this trend and put an end to it through legislation.”
Sen. Michael Bamidele Opeyemi
Senator Bamidele, who also serves as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, revealed that the 10th National Assembly is in the final stages of the constitutional amendment process required to institutionalize state policing.
Once the National Assembly concludes the review, the proposal will be transmitted to the state Houses of Assembly. Implementation will require ratification by a two-thirds majority of the states. Senator Bamidele urged sub-national governments and regional legislatures to prioritize this proposal above partisan, ethnic, or religious considerations.
While legislative frameworks for state policing are being finalized, the Senate Leader called for immediate interim measures to secure vulnerable communities:
Full Implementation of the Safe School Initiative: Urging both federal and state governments to rigorously enforce the initiative to protect public and private schools.
Addressing the Education Crisis: Combating the escalating issue of out of school children, which currently stands at an estimated 18.3 million nationwide.
Upon resuming plenary on June 2, 2026, the National Assembly is scheduled to finalize outstanding legislative interventions aimed at tackling the country’s security challenges. This legislative agenda will include completing the ongoing constitutional review and enacting critical amendments to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
