The Senate has renewed efforts to establish state police following fresh abductions of students and teachers in Borno and Oyo States, describing the attacks as a growing threat to national security and the future of education in Nigeria.
Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, condemned the incidents and said they had reinforced the resolve of the National Assembly to accelerate constitutional amendments that would allow states to establish their own police formations.
Bamidele, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, described attacks on schools as a direct assault on Nigeria’s future and warned that insecurity around educational institutions could no longer be tolerated.
The latest attacks involved the abduction of 45 students and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, while Boko Haram insurgents reportedly kidnapped 42 students during an attack on a school in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
According to the Senate Leader, the constitutional review process for state police is already at an advanced stage and lawmakers intend to conclude legislative work on the proposal immediately plenary resumes.
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“One of such initiatives is the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution that seeks to establish state police, which is now at an advanced stage,” Bamidele said.
“As soon as the National Assembly resumes plenaries on June 2, we will perfect all outstanding legislative initiatives that have been introduced to decisively address security challenges in the federation.”
He explained that after passage by the National Assembly, the amendment would require approval by at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly before becoming operational.
Bamidele also urged federal and state governments to intensify implementation of the Safe School Initiative, warning that persistent attacks on schools were worsening Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis, currently estimated at about 18.3 million.
The Senate Leader added that lawmakers were considering amendments to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, to strengthen accountability and deterrence against violent crimes and terrorism.
Meanwhile, pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere expressed concern over the attacks in Oyo and other violent incidents across the South-West, warning that insecurity was spreading rapidly across the region.
In Borno State, Governor Babagana Zulum pledged immediate humanitarian support and long-term resettlement plans for displaced residents affected by renewed insurgent attacks in northern communities.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has also ordered the deployment of additional tactical and intelligence assets to Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to reinforce rescue operations and improve security in the area.
In a related development, the United States Mission in Nigeria advised American citizens to heighten personal security awareness and limit unnecessary travel following a joint U.S.-Nigeria military operation that reportedly killed terrorist commander Abu-Bilal al-Minuki in the Lake Chad Basin.
