Remi Tinubu, Nigeria’s first lady, will host 109 Senators to a dinner of “sumptuous meal” in the Presidential Villa on Friday, while mass kidnapping of children from their schools casts a pall over the nation.

Over 200 pupils kidnapped from St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri in Niger are still held hostage by a violent terrorist group. All in all, no fewer than 402 people, mainly schoolchildren, have been kidnapped in Niger, Kebbi, Kwara, and Borno since November 17.

Mrs Tinubu’s invitation to senators for a dinner was read out at the Red Chamber by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Tuesday.

“Remi Tinubu, CON, first lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Mr Akpabio stated. “This is like an invitation by a mother to her children on Friday. I wish you (a) sumptuous meal and fruitful discussion.”

Mr Akpabio added, “Senator Wammako, you are looking at me as if you are going to travel. This is very important. We will all be there on Friday.”

Just this week, Mr Akpabio formally unveiled Nigeria’s Counter-Terrorism Strategic Plan 2025-2030.

“It is a moment when Nigeria again reaffirms that our people deserve to live without fear, that our children deserve a future of peace, and that our nation must be secured to prosper,” said the Senate president.

Meanwhile, a lawmaker in the House of Representatives has called for a declaration of a state of emergency in the Green Chamber. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, representing the Doguwa/Tudun Wada federal constituency of Kano, demanded the immediate shutdown of the parliament amid the worsening insecurity across the country.

On Monday, a former minister, Bolaji Akinyemi, advised President Bola Tinubu to suspend the enforcement of the Armed Forces Act 2004 provision—an inherited British-era policy—that mandates the retirement of military personnel after 35 years of service or upon attaining 60 years of age.

Mr Akinyemi also urged the president to declare a nationwide state of emergency.

“During this period, constitutional immunity for governors should be suspended so that any governor under whose jurisdiction terrorist groups operate freely and with impunity can be held accountable,” said the former minister. “Where necessary, such a state may be temporarily placed under military administration to restore order and protect citizens.”

Several mass abductions have taken place in the country, mainly in the North, as security forces struggle to wrest the vice-group hold several amorphous terror groups have on swathes of land and communities in the region.

During the uptick in violent abductions and killings, Mr Tinubu was forced to cancel his trips to South Africa and Angola.

Mr Tinubu’s government has been asked to investigate the increasing wave of attacks and abductions by insurgent groups. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which made the appeal in Geneva on Tuesday, also urged the Nigerian government to hold those responsible to account. It urged the government to take all lawful measures to halt vile attacks against the citizens.