Senate presses for stronger school security after Oyo abductions amid scrutiny of defence spending
Nigeria’s Senate has called on the federal government and security agencies to secure the release of dozens of students, pupils and teachers abducted in Oyo state, as lawmakers voiced concern over persistent insecurity but declined to back a proposal for an audit of military spending.
The resolution followed a motion by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, who drew the chamber’s attention to the recent abduction of 46 people, including schoolchildren and teachers, from schools in the south-western state.
Lawmakers urged the government to strengthen security around schools and vulnerable communities, warning that continued attacks on educational institutions threatened both public safety and access to education.
The Senate also called for an expansion of the Safe Schools Initiative through improved surveillance, intelligence gathering and the deployment of security personnel to areas considered at risk.
During the debate, Senator Adams Oshiomhole argued that parliament should examine whether resources allocated to the armed forces were being effectively used, saying lawmakers had a responsibility to scrutinise security spending and assess the implementation of previous Senate resolutions.
“It doesn’t appear to me that we have carried out an audit of resolutions passed in the past. What actions have been taken?” Oshiomhole said.
“If the armed forces are not accountable and if we don’t carry out oversight of military resources, then we are failing in our responsibility.”
The former Edo state governor called for a comprehensive review of security operations and defence expenditure, arguing that such an exercise would help determine whether public funds were being optimally deployed in the fight against banditry, kidnapping and insurgency.
“We need to carry out a security audit. We are entitled to get feedback on the monies appropriated. Until such an audit is conducted, we may not know whether the resources provided are being optimally deployed,” he said.
His proposal, however, failed to gain support after no senator seconded the motion.
Several lawmakers nevertheless raised concerns about the effectiveness of security spending and urged greater accountability from security agencies, while calling on state governments to strengthen local security measures in support of federal efforts.
Oshiomhole also referenced the abduction of schoolchildren in Kebbi state earlier this year, when state authorities alleged that military personnel had been withdrawn from the area shortly before the attack.
He noted that the Senate had previously directed military authorities to identify the officer responsible for ordering the withdrawal, but said the resolution had yet to be acted upon.
“We passed a resolution asking the military to produce the name of the officer who gave the order. To date, no action has been taken,” he said.
The latest appeal from lawmakers comes as concerns persist over the security of schools across parts of Nigeria, where mass kidnappings have repeatedly exposed weaknesses in the country’s security architecture and disrupted the education of thousands of children.