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Senate Pushes for State Police as Fresh School Abductions Raise Security Concerns
E-ISSN:2354-4481
By Greg Awele
The Nigerian Senate has renewed calls for the establishment of state police following recent kidnappings of students and teachers in parts of Borno and Oyo states, amid growing concerns over insecurity affecting schools across the country.
Speaking on the development, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele condemned the attacks and described them as further evidence of the need to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture through constitutional reforms.
Bamidele stated that one of the major reforms currently receiving attention is the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution aimed at creating state police formations across the federation. According to him, the constitutional process has reached an advanced stage and lawmakers are prepared to take further legislative action once plenary sessions resume.
He disclosed that the National Assembly would continue work on pending security-related bills and reforms immediately after lawmakers reconvene on June 2 to address the country’s persistent security challenges more effectively.
The Senate Leader described the repeated abductions of students and teachers as deeply troubling, warning that attacks on educational institutions threaten national development and undermine efforts to improve access to education across the country.
The renewed push for state police follows coordinated attacks on schools in the Oriire area of Oyo State and another incident in Borno State, where several students and teachers were reportedly abducted by armed groups.
In response to the incidents, security agencies have intensified rescue and surveillance operations. The Inspector-General of Police has also directed the deployment of additional tactical and intelligence teams to support ongoing security operations in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, the United States Mission in Nigeria issued a security advisory urging residents and citizens to remain vigilant following recent military and security operations in parts of the country.
Bamidele maintained that the growing scale of attacks on schools and communities has made discussions around state policing increasingly important, stressing that localised security structures could improve rapid response and intelligence gathering.
He also called for stronger implementation of the Safe School Initiative, noting that insecurity continues to worsen Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis, which the government estimateto beat more than 18 million children.
The Senate further indicated that amendments to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act are being considered as part of broader efforts to strengthen deterrence against violent and criminal groups operating across the country.
