Senate President Godswill Akpabio has come under fire for comments he made in the wake of the recent abduction of 25 schoolgirls from a secondary school in Kebbi State, during which the school’s vice principal was killed. His remarks, suggesting that crime is universal even in powerful nations like the United States, have sparked outrage from civil society groups, affected families, and some lawmakers.

During a tense plenary session where senators debated not only the kidnapping in Kebbi but also the killing of a Nigerian brigadier general, Akpabio urged against despair. He raised the sheer scale of Nigeria as a factor in its security problems, noting that the country’s size and stretched security agencies make total coverage a massive challenge.

Akpabio’s most polarizing line came when he said:

“There is no society without crime. Even the almighty America records crime on a daily basis. But we must continue to do our best to minimize it."

He offered his condolences to the families of the victims, both the girls taken and the vice principal who tried to defend them. But he paired that sympathy with a warning: crime is not a uniquely Nigerian problem.

Akpabio also used the moment to call for more action: he urged the recruitment of 100,000 additional military personnel, arguing that the current force is overstretched and under-resourced.

He pushed for a probe into the Safe School Programme, wondering aloud how funds meant to protect students from attacks were being used and whether they had failed to deliver on their promise.

But critics are not convinced by his framing. Many have expressed concern that by normalizing crime as something even the U.S. experiences, Akpabio is downplaying the urgency and scale of Nigeria’s security crisis.

Some civil society voices argue that this rhetoric risks offering little comfort to the families of the abducted girls, who want decisive government action, not philosophical comparisons.

His comments come as the Senate itself has passed resolutions calling for the immediate rescue of the schoolgirls and demanding better funding and oversight for school security initiatives.

The Senate also called on all Nigerians with useful information to assist in bringing the kidnapped girls home safely.

International reactions have been sharp as well. A U.S. senator publicly condemned Nigeria’s handling of the kidnapping, warning that accountability will be demanded.

Amid all this tension, Akpabio’s message remains: crime is a global challenge, but that is not an excuse for inaction. He insists the government must work harder—not just to condemn, but to act, to recruit more security forces, and to finally make schools safe.