First Lady To Host Senators For Presidential Villa Dinner While Over Four Hundred Children Remain Kidnapped Nationwide

 

Nigeria’s first lady, Remi Tinubu, is set to host 109 senators for a “sumptuous” dinner at the Presidential Villa this Friday, a move that has drawn attention against the backdrop of escalating kidnappings across the country. Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the invitation during plenary, describing the gathering as “like an invitation by a mother to her children on Friday” and wishing the senators a fruitful discussion.

The planned dinner comes as more than 200 pupils from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, remain in the hands of a violent terrorist group. Since November 17, at least 402 individuals, primarily schoolchildren, have been abducted across Niger, Kebbi, Kwara, and Borno States. Families and communities affected by the kidnappings are pleading for swift government intervention, highlighting the growing threat to children and citizens in the northern regions.

During plenary, Senate President Akpabio emphasized the nation’s commitment to counter-terrorism, formally unveiling Nigeria’s Counter-Terrorism Strategic Plan 2025-2030. He stressed that Nigerians deserve to live without fear, that children deserve a peaceful future, and that national security is essential for prosperity. Despite these declarations, calls for urgent and drastic measures continue to mount from lawmakers and security experts alike.

In the House of Representatives, lawmaker Alhassan Ado-Doguwa of Kano’s Doguwa/Tudun Wada constituency demanded a declaration of a state of emergency, urging the immediate shutdown of parliament amid the worsening insecurity. He warned that without decisive action, terrorist groups would continue to operate with impunity, threatening both citizens and institutions.

Bolaji Akinyemi, a former minister, has also advised President Bola Tinubu to suspend enforcement of the Armed Forces Act 2004, a British-era policy mandating retirement of military personnel after 35 years of service or at age 60. Akinyemi proposed a nationwide state of emergency, including temporary suspension of governors’ constitutional immunity, and suggested that regions under ineffective governance might need military administration to restore order and protect citizens.

The rising wave of abductions and killings has forced President Tinubu to cancel international trips to South Africa and Angola, signaling the severity of the domestic security crisis. Humanitarian organizations and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights have urged the Nigerian government to investigate the attacks, hold perpetrators accountable, and implement all lawful measures to halt the violence.

As lawmakers prepare for the first lady’s dinner, the contrast between official celebrations and the ongoing national tragedy of kidnapped children underscores the intense pressure on the government to address terrorism and restore safety across Nigeria. The situation continues to test the leadership’s ability to protect its citizens while balancing state protocols and ceremonial obligations.