Senate President Godswill Akpabio has reacted to the surge in violent attacks across Nigeria, urging citizens and lawmakers to maintain perspective even as outrage grows nationwide.

Akpabio’s comments came during Tuesday’s tense plenary session, which was dominated by discussions on 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.

While senators expressed deep frustration over what many described as a worsening national security failure, Akpabio called for restraint, pointing to Nigeria’s vast population and strained security system.

“We sympathise deeply with the families affected, but we must remember that Nigeria is a very large country,” he said.
“Our security agencies are overstretched and find themselves in places they shouldn’t ordinarily be.”

He noted that even during elections, it is impossible to deploy one officer to every polling unit, emphasizing that the nation’s security architecture is under immense pressure.

Akpabio also stressed that crime is a global issue, not exclusive 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.”

Nigeria has witnessed a sharp escalation in attacks by insurgents, bandits, and armed groups in recent months, fuelling public anger and renewed calls for urgent government intervention.