The Senate on Wednesday, 26th November 2025, erupted into a charged session over Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, a discussion triggered by a motion from Kwara South senator, Lola Ashiru, calling for urgent federal intervention in the escalating insecurity across Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger states.

For weeks, the North-Central and neighbouring frontline states have reported rising kidnappings and mass abductions, including the recent seizure of schoolchildren in Kebbi.

Lawmakers said the latest incidents have worsened public fear, especially as the festive season draws near, a period traditionally linked to increased troop movement, highway travel and vulnerability of rural schools.

Naijaonpoint reports that Ashiru’s motion further raised concerns about recent attacks, military withdrawals, and operations said to have been constrained or compromised, which some senators tagged as warning signs no parliament should ignore.

Challenges Surmountable But We Need International Support – Barau

Speaking during the plenary, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau struck a tone of cautious optimism, saying the country can win the battle, but not entirely alone.

“The security challenges confronting the nation are surmountable, but we need international support,” he said, adding that lawmakers should support sustained collaborations with global allies.

Naijaonpoint recalls that there was mild drama on the floor of the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday, November 4, when the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and his deputy, Senator Jibrin Barau, openly disagreed over the United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump’s threat of military intervention in Nigeria following allegations of a Christian genocide in parts of the country.

Akpabio had taken the floor at the end of plenary to debunk a viral report alleging that he attacked Trump in response to the U.S. President’s recent comments.

However, his remarks triggered an unexpected exchange with his deputy, who insisted he was “not afraid of Trump.”

The Senate President referenced a story published by a social media platform, which claimed he dismissed Trump’s concerns about religious killings in Nigeria.

... alleged that Akpabio had said: “The killing is taking place in Nigeria, not in the USA. Trump should focus on the U.S. Nigerians are not complaining about the killings; we are fully satisfied with the condition of Nigeria.”

But Akpabio dismissed the report as “malicious and completely fabricated.”

“Who am I to answer Trump?” Akpabio said. “Somebody sat in the comfort of his room and produced a fake report with old pictures from 2023, when the Senate visited Port Harcourt, and claimed I responded to President Trump. That never happened.”

Moments after Akpabio’s clarification, Barau interjected, declaring that he was unafraid to speak his mind about the American President.

“I’m not scared of Trump. I will say my mind. I’m a Nigerian, and Nigeria is a sovereign nation. I’m a parliamentarian,” Barau said.

He added, “I’m the Deputy Senate President; I can speak. Don’t be scared of Trump. You can say your mind about Trump. We are a sovereign nation.”

‘Business as Usual Can’t Continue’ – Bamidele Warns Senate

On the latest developments on the floor of the Senate, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, described the insecurity wave as a moment of truth, a test of leadership and sincerity.

“This is a turning point. It must not be business as usual,” Bamidele warned.

Although he welcomed the rescue of abducted captives, he voiced frustration that Nigerians were not told what happened to the terrorists or bandits during the operations.

“We heard of the rescue, but not a word on the terrorists neutralised in the process,” he added, describing the silence as “strange and worrying.”

He also lashed out at other lawmakers pushing for a shutdown of the National Assembly, describing the call as political showboating.

“We must avoid grandstanding. That argument is an abdication of responsibility,” he said.

Then came his biggest self-dig, aimed not at Government House, but at lawmakers themselves: “If we are asking the President to rejig the security architecture, we must also look at our own arrangement. I am not impressed with our Committee on Security and Intelligence. We should rejig it ourselves.”

‘Today’s Failures Are Today’s Government’s’ – Opposition Fires Back

Reacting, Opposition senator, Enyinnaya Abaribe, pushed back against attempts to blame past administrations for present insecurity.

He cited reports that troops withdrew before the Kebbi school invasion.

“Who asked them? Nobody knows,” he said, before issuing what became the most quoted line of the session: “If I were the Commander-in-Chief, I would demand answers.”

Then he added, for national effect: “If I were the Commander-in-Chief, I would demand answers. Who ordered the military to withdraw? That person should be tried for terrorism.”

‘This Country Is Under Attack’ – Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio also waded into the storm, condemning attempts to frame the crisis on religious or sectional grounds.

“This is orchestrated to damage the image of democracy. There is nothing like targeting Muslims or Christians,” he said.

“This country is under attack,” Akpabio declared, drawing nods and table knocks from both sides.

Akpabio disclosed that even moles and internal betrayal could no longer be ruled out, recalling the killing of a brigadier general in Borno, whose location, he said, may have been compromised.

“His movement and location were compromised. That is sabotage,” he said, his voice tightening with concern.

‘Who Ordered Troop Withdrawal?’ – Oshiomhole Demands Probe, Trial

Former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman and current senator, Adams Oshiomhole, defended the current federal leadership, but demanded serious accountability.

“Who ordered the military to withdraw?” Oshiomhole asked repeatedly.

He added angrily, “That person should be tried for terrorism.”

His remarks were later adopted as part of the Senate resolutions in a voice vote. Oshiomhole also slammed what he called inconsistencies in Nigeria’s justice system, noting sentencing disparities.

“A convicted terrorist named Hassan received a 20-year sentence, but people who killed a bandit in self-defence were sentenced to death,” he said, questioning the system’s sense of proportionality.