Kebbi Schoolgirls Abduction: ‘There Is No Society Without Crime’, Says Senate President Akpabio

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, stirred controversy on Tuesday after he appeared to play down the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State, suggesting that kidnappings and killings should not provoke despair because crime exists everywhere.

Akpabio made the remarks while presiding over plenary during a heated debate on the killing of Brigadier-General Uba Musa in Borno State and the abduction of the schoolgirls, alongside the killing of a vice principal, in Kebbi State.

As senators attempted to harmonise their resolutions on the worsening security crisis, Akpabio shifted focus to the scale of Nigeria and the strain on its security agencies, remarks critics say sounded like a justification for the continuing wave of violent crimes.

“We sympathise deeply with the families affected, but we must remember that Nigeria is a very large country,” the Senate President said.

“It is not even possible to deploy one policeman to each polling unit during elections. Our security agencies are overstretched and find themselves in places they shouldn’t ordinarily be,” he added.

Doubling down, he argued that crime was a global challenge, including in powerful nations.

“There is no society without crime. Even the almighty America records crime on a daily basis. But we must continue to do our best to minimise it,” Akpabio said.

The comments, made at a time when families of abducted schoolgirls await decisive government action, have drawn criticism from civil society groups and some lawmakers who say the Senate President appeared to normalise a crisis that has become a national emergency.

Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that no fewer than 25 students were abducted from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, early Monday morning, according to confirmation by the Kebbi State Police Command.

The attack, carried out by heavily armed bandits, left one staff member dead and another injured. This was disclosed in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafi’u Abubakar Kotarkoshi.

The incident reportedly occurred around 4:00 a.m. when the assailants stormed the school and engaged police officers on duty in a fierce gun battle.

Despite the officers’ efforts, the attackers scaled the school’s perimeter fence and forcibly removed the students from their hostel.

The police spokesperson confirmed that one Hassan Makuku lost his life during the attack, while Ali Shehu sustained gunshot injuries to his right hand.

Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Bello Muhammad Sani, deployed additional police tactical units, alongside military personnel and vigilante groups, to the area.(SaharaReporters)