President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has called on security agencies to intensify efforts to free Nigerians held by armed groups and warned politicians against allowing the 2027 electoral contest to deepen violence across the country.
Akpabio spoke on Tuesday as the Senate resumed plenary after more than two months of recess, placing the safety of citizens alongside the political activity expected to gather pace ahead of the next general elections.
In his welcome address, the Senate President declared that Nigeria could not regard itself as completely free while any of its citizens remained in captivity.
“So long as a single Nigerian languishes in captivity, a part of Nigeria is held captive; and this Chamber cannot call itself free of the burden,” he said.
Akpabio called on the security agencies to intensify rescue operations and shield vulnerable communities from further attacks. He also pledged that the Senate would deploy legislation, budgetary powers and oversight to examine what additional measures could help tackle insecurity.
His remarks come against the backdrop of continued military operations and fresh reports of abductions in parts of the country.
The Defence Headquarters said troops rescued more than 60 kidnapped victims and arrested 44 suspects during operations conducted between September 18 and 24. The operations covered terrorism, kidnapping, arms trafficking, oil theft and other security threats.
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According to the military, more than 60 captives escaped after a Nigerian Air Force operation disrupted terrorists transporting them around Bazama in Kebbi State. Ground troops also recovered victims in Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
Among those rescued were 17 people along the Isa-Kwanar Isa axis in Sokoto and seven university students abducted along the Daye-Malumfashi Road in Katsina. Five other victims, including the chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, were rescued from terrorist captivity, the Defence Headquarters said.
Yet, the latest operations have not ended the threat.
At least 87 people were reported abducted in two separate attacks in Niger and Zamfara states over the weekend. Local sources and a security report prepared for humanitarian organisations said 47 farmers, mostly women, were taken while harvesting groundnuts in Rimi, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State. Another 40 women were reportedly abducted in Yargada, Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The figures illustrate the difficult security environment confronting communities even as political preparations intensify.
Akpabio therefore shifted part of his address towards the conduct of the coming political contest, calling for peaceful engagement among politicians and cautioning against using communities, religious identities or regional affiliations as instruments of political mobilisation.
He said candidates should have the opportunity to present their programmes, respond to difficult questions and compete without exposing citizens to intimidation or violence.
“No electoral prize is worth a Nigerian life. No victory deserves celebration if it leaves the nation wounded,” Akpabio said.
The message also carried an instruction for lawmakers themselves. Akpabio said senators from different political parties, regions and ideological backgrounds could disagree on national questions, but their disagreements should be handled with dignity and respect for the country’s unity.
The Senate President further assured that the National Assembly would continue legislative business despite the political calendar.
The resumption itself comes at an important point in the legislative year. The National Assembly’s recess had been extended from September 15 to September 29 to allow rehabilitation work in the legislative chambers to be completed.
Lawmakers are returning with several issues competing for attention, including constitutional amendments, electoral reforms, budget implementation and security oversight. The proposed constitutional changes include provisions relating to state police, local government administration and electoral matters.
Security has also featured prominently in the Senate’s recent interventions. In July, the chamber approved a ₦50 million support package for the families of five people killed during the operation to rescue abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State. The victims included three security personnel and two teachers.
That Oyo abduction, in which pupils and teachers spent 56 days in captivity before their rescue, demonstrated how kidnapping can extend beyond ransom demands into prolonged disruption of families, education and community life. A witness later told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the victims were moved between six locations and endured harsh conditions during their captivity.
Akpabio’s latest remarks therefore place two issues side by side: the immediate responsibility to recover citizens already in captivity and the political responsibility to prevent electoral competition from creating fresh security pressures.
With campaigns expected to intensify towards 2027, his position is that political ambition should not come at the cost of lives, while the Senate must use its legislative, appropriations and oversight functions to address the security problems confronting Nigerians.
