By Abasi Ita
The Senator representing Cross River South, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, has condemned the abduction of twenty five schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Kebbi State, calling the incident a painful reminder of Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
Speaking on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday, Senator Ekpenyong described the continued vulnerability of schoolchildren as unacceptable, noting that young Nigerians who seek education to improve their lives and contribute to national development “are no longer safe.”
The lawmaker urged the Senate to pass an immediate resolution compelling security agencies to return for another briefing. This time, he insisted, the session must come with firm ultimatums, clear performance benchmarks, and consequences in the event of failure.
Senator Ekpenyong stressed that beyond responding to the current crisis, lawmakers must take decisive long term measures to strengthen the country’s security framework. He called for the review and reinforcement of national security laws, improved resourcing of security institutions, and intensified legislative oversight to ensure agencies fulfill their mandates.
He appealed to his colleagues to work in unity with the present administration to bring an end to what he described as a decades long struggle against terrorism and banditry.
The Senator emphasized that Nigeria cannot afford continued complacency while children remain targets of violence, urging the federal government and all security actors to take immediate, coordinated, and results driven action.