Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday addressed the recent surge in violent incidents across the country, saying that no nation, including the United States, is completely free from crime.
He made the remarks while presiding over plenary during a tense discussion on the killing of Brigadier General Uba Musa in Borno State, as well as the abduction of 25 schoolgirls and the killing of a vice principal in Kebbi State — all occurring within 24 hours.
During the debate, several senators expressed concerns over the worsening security situation, but Akpabio urged caution and discouraged hopelessness. He noted that Nigeria’s size and population place a heavy burden on security agencies who are already stretched thin.
“We sympathise deeply with the families affected, but we must remember that Nigeria is a very large country,” he said.
He also pointed out that the country’s security resources are limited. “It is not even possible to deploy one policeman to each polling unit during elections. Our security agencies are overstretched and find themselves in places they shouldn’t ordinarily be.”
Akpabio stressed that crime is a universal problem, adding that even powerful nations deal with daily incidents. “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 said.
Nigeria has seen rising levels of violence in recent months, with attacks by Boko Haram, bandits, and other armed groups affecting multiple regions. Critics have urged the government to take urgent steps to prevent further escalation.
