The Nigerian Senate has strongly condemned the abduction of dozens of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, describing the incident as a heartbreaking tragedy and a direct attack on the nation’s shared humanity.
Speaking during Tuesday’s plenary session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed deep concern over the worsening insecurity across the country, saying the kidnapping of innocent pupils and educators represents a dangerous threat to Nigeria’s future and education system.
Akpabio stated that the attack goes beyond the victims and their families, stressing that it affects every Nigerian and raises serious concerns about the safety of children in schools.
According to him, the continued inability to fully protect students, teachers and communities from criminal attacks remains a major challenge that requires urgent national attention.
The Senate President paid tribute to those who lost their lives during the incident, including teacher Michael Oyedokun, who was reportedly killed while in captivity, as well as Adesiyan Adegboye and a young pupil who also lost their lives during the attack.
Describing the losses as painful and heartbreaking, Akpabio said the grief of the affected families is a burden shared by the entire nation.
Despite the tragedy, he expressed optimism that the remaining victims would soon regain their freedom, assuring Nigerians that security agencies and relevant authorities were working towards securing their safe release.
As a mark of respect for the deceased victims, Akpabio led senators in observing a minute of silence during the plenary session.
The Senate President also directed the Senate leadership to begin arrangements for a national security summit aimed at finding practical solutions to the country’s growing security challenges, including kidnappings, terrorism and violent attacks on communities.
The Senate’s reaction comes amid nationwide outrage over the May 15 abduction of 39 pupils and seven teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The incident has triggered protests across several states, demands for urgent government action and an indefinite strike by teachers in Oyo State as pressure mounts on authorities to secure the release of the victims.
Meanwhile, Akpabio also addressed concerns among lawmakers who lost out during their party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections, assuring them that discussions were ongoing regarding issues arising from the nomination process.
However, the Senate President maintained that the immediate priority remains addressing the country’s security challenges and ensuring that abducted Nigerians are safely reunited with their families.
