Akpabio Says There’s No Society Without Crime As Senate Debates Rising Violence In Nigeria
Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday addressed growing concerns over Nigeria’s escalating violence, urging lawmakers and citizens to remain calm amid worsening insecurity. His comments came during a tense Senate plenary focused on recent deadly incidents, including the killing of Brigadier-General Uba Musa in Borno State, the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi, and the murder of a school vice principal — all occurring within 24 hours. During the session, senators voiced frustration over the deteriorating security situation, but Akpabio cautioned against despair, highlighting the challenges faced by Nigeria’s stretched security forces. “We sympathise deeply with the families affected, but we must remember that Nigeria is a very large country,” he said. He noted the practical limits facing security agencies, emphasizing that even during elections, it is impossible to deploy a policeman to every polling unit. “Our security agencies are overstretched and often find themselves in places they shouldn’t ordinarily be,” Akpabio added. The Senate President also pointed out that crime is a global issue, not unique to Nigeria. “There is no society without crime. Even the almighty America records crime daily. But we must continue to do our best to minimise it,” he stated. Nigeria has seen a surge in attacks by insurgents, bandits, and other armed groups in recent months, prompting calls from critics for urgent government action to curb the rising violence before it spirals further out of control.