ABUJA, Nigeria (FN) — Senate President Godswill Akpabio said Tuesday that no nation in the world is free of crime as lawmakers debated fresh killings and abductions in northern Nigeria. His comments came amid outrage over the murder of a senior military officer and the kidnapping of schoolgirls.
The Senate convened to address worsening insecurity after reports that Brigadier‑General Uba Musa was killed in Borno State and at least 25 schoolgirls were abducted in Kebbi State. Lawmakers also mourned the killing of a vice principal in the same region, underscoring the human toll of violence.
Akpabio urged senators to keep perspective, noting that even advanced nations such as the United States grapple with crime. “No nation in the world, including the United States, is free of crime,” he said. “We must understand that our security agencies are overstretched.”
Sen. Adamu Aliero of Kebbi State countered that Nigerians expect more than comparisons. “Our people are being slaughtered daily. We cannot normalize this by saying crime exists everywhere,” he said. Other senators called for urgent protection of schools and rural communities.
Nigeria has recorded more than 3,000 abductions in 2025, according to figures from security trackers, with banditry and insurgency concentrated in the northwest and northeast. Lawmakers said the numbers highlight the scale of the crisis and the need for stronger action.
The presidency issued a statement late Tuesday pledging support for security agencies and promising to intensify military operations in affected states. The defense ministry said reinforcements would be deployed to Kebbi and Borno to reassure residents.
Public reaction was swift. Nigerians on social media accused Akpabio of downplaying insecurity, with hashtags such as #SecureNigeria trending. “We don’t need reminders that crime exists — we live with it every day,” one user wrote. Supporters, however, said his comments were a realistic acknowledgment of global crime.
Many critics described the remark as insensitive, arguing that it came at a time when families were grieving fresh losses. Civil society groups said leaders must show empathy and urgency, not generalizations, when addressing insecurity.
The debate highlighted frustration over repeated assaults on civilians despite ongoing military operations. Senators questioned whether current strategies are sufficient, recalling past tragedies such as the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction that drew international condemnation.
The killings and abductions underscore Nigeria’s continuing struggle with insurgency and banditry, challenges that have shaken public confidence and placed heavy demands on the nation’s security forces. Lawmakers said the Senate must act decisively to restore trust and protect vulnerable communities.
