ABUJA – The Senate has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Kebbi school abduction, including the controversial withdrawal of soldiers prior to the attack, while proposing radical new measures including the death penalty for kidnapping offenses.
During a heated plenary session on Wednesday, the Red Chamber directed its Committees on Defence, Army, Navy, Police Affairs, and Interior to probe both the Kebbi incident and the recent killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba in Borno State, with particular focus on allegations that his location was compromised by his own team.
The Senate resolved that “the relevant sections of the nation’s extant law should be amended to make act of kidnapping carry death sentence without option of fine,” marking one of the most severe proposed responses to Nigeria’s kidnapping epidemic.
The investigation, which must report back within two weeks, will examine the withdrawal of soldiers from the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Maga just before ISWAP fighters invaded the institution, killed the vice principal, and abducted over 25 students.
The session grew contentious when Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe challenged the government’s accountability, asking: “Who asked them? Nobody knows. If I were the Commander-in-Chief, I would demand answers.”
Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole escalated the confrontation, demanding: “Who ordered the military to withdraw? That person should be tried for terrorism.” The Senate subsequently adopted this demand among its resolutions.
The chamber also witnessed an uproar when Senator Seriake Dickson accused the majority caucus of “managing the issues rather than confronting them,” resulting in his microphone being cut off by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Beyond the investigations, the Senate outlined a comprehensive security response, including the establishment of a Joint Task Force covering the Kwara-Kogi corridor, immediate reconstruction of the Idofian-Omu-Aran-Eruku-Egbe-Kabba federal highway, and enhanced intelligence-driven operations across multiple states.
In a significant policy shift, the Senate advised the Federal Government to “review Nigeria’s firearm law to reflect current security challenges,” noting that over 175 countries permit responsible citizens to own guns.
The Senate leadership was mandated to brief President Tinubu on all resolutions, encouraging him to “persevere in his efforts” amid the worsening security crisis.
Follow NewsFocus for continuing coverage of national security developments and legislative actions.
