Akpabio: Terrorists, Kidnappers Ignore Political Parties — They Target Nigeria

Nigeria's Senate President Godswill Akpabio said on Wednesday that kidnappers and terrorist groups operating across the country are not motivated by political affiliation, dismissing suggestions that security threats are linked to partisan rivalries. The statement, delivered during a Senate session in Abuja, comes as armed groups continue to stage mass kidnappings and attacks in multiple states, forcing communities to live under constant fear. Akpabio argued that security challenges facing the nation transcend party politics and require unified responses from all Nigerians.

Senate Chamber Draws Hard Line on Security Debate

The Senate chamber in Abuja became the stage for a sharp exchange on national security as Akpabio addressed lawmakers gathered for the session. He pushed back against any narrative suggesting that criminal networks operating in Nigeria's north-central and northwestern regions have connections to political parties. "These criminal elements do not carry party cards," Akpabio told senators, adding that their only allegiance is to financial gain and violence. The presiding officer's remarks appeared designed to lower the temperature on politically charged debates about security that have at times fractured legislative discourse.

Mass Kidnappings Shake Communities Nationwide

The Senate President's comments landed against a backdrop of relentless violence. In Kaduna State alone, more than 800 people have been killed or kidnapped in the past twelve months according to local police data. Schools in states including Niger, Zamfara, and Katsina have become targets, with armed groups abducting students and demanding ransoms that strain already struggling families. Communities in the Northwest have organised local vigilante groups because they say state security forces cannot reach them quickly enough. The economic toll is stark: the United Nations estimated that food insecurity driven partly by displacement from violence now affects an estimated 26 million Nigerians.

Northwest States Bear the Brunt

Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi states have recorded some of the highest numbers of abductions for ransom since 2021. In several incidents, villagers told local media that attackers arrived on motorcycles, a tactic that allows them to outrun police patrols on potholed rural roads. The groups responsible include factions that have shifted between banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping-for-profit, often operating with near impunity in areas where governance is thin. Local leaders say the psychological toll on rural communities is immense, with entire villages emptied overnight.

Political Rhetoric Meets Ground Reality

Some opposition figures and local commentators have in recent months raised questions about whether political sponsors are arming criminal groups ahead of future elections. Akpabio's intervention was aimed squarely at that line of argument. He told the Senate that attributing security problems to political opponents risks distracting from the actual work of confronting armed groups. Security analysts have long argued that Nigeria's criminal landscape is too fragmented and economically driven to function as a coordinated political tool. The Senate has itself been debating additional funding for security agencies, with several committees calling for better intelligence-sharing between federal and state authorities.

What Citizens Say on the Ground

For ordinary Nigerians living in affected areas, the Senate's debate feels distant. In markets across Kaduna and Katsina, conversations centre on survival rather than party politics. Residents in affected communities say their priority is simple: security forces that arrive before the attackers leave. A community leader in Shiroro local government area of Niger State told local journalists that his village had written to the state governor four times requesting a police post. They received no reply. "We do not care who sponsors the bandits," the leader said. "We need someone to protect our children."

Government Response and Funding Questions

The federal government has allocated approximately 3.2 trillion naira to defence and security spending in the current budget cycle, a figure that represents a significant portion of non-debt expenditure. Despite this, senators from affected states have repeatedly questioned whether funds are translating into improved security on the ground. The Senate Committee on Defence has announced plans to conduct oversight visits to military formations in the Northwest. Akpabio urged his colleagues to channel frustrations into legislative action rather than political point-scoring.

Senate Pushes for Unity Against Security Threat

Lawmakers from both the ruling party and the opposition largely welcomed Akpabio's stance. Several senators called for a joint committee to investigate security gaps and report back before the Easter recess. The Senate resolved to summon the Inspector General of Police and service chiefs to appear before an open session within the next six weeks. The motion passed without dissent, reflecting rare bipartisan agreement on the urgency of the moment.

Next Steps and What to Watch

The Senate's decision to summon security chiefs means Nigerians will have an opportunity to hear directly from those leading the fight against armed groups. The oversight session scheduled for the coming weeks is expected to demand specifics: how many operations have been conducted in the past quarter, what arrest or conviction rates look like, and whether the new funding approved for rural police posts has reached the ground. Communities in the Northwest will be watching closely. Their next test may not be political at all. It will be whether anyone shows up before the gunmen do.