Abduction of Kebbi Schoolgirls: A Direct Attack on Education in Northern Nigeria and a Call for National Emergency on the Safe Schools Initiative
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
19.11.25
Abuja
CLEEN Foundation condemns in the strongest terms the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State, another distressing reminder of the fragility of school safety across Northern Nigeria. This brazen assault on innocent children is not only an attack on their right to education but a direct strike at the heart of national stability, development, and collective security. This tragic incident adds to the pattern of escalating attacks on schools, further undermining community confidence and jeopardizing the future of millions of children, especially girls, in the region. The continued targeting of educational institutions is unacceptable and represents a national emergency that requires urgent, coordinated, and depoliticized action.
At a time when Nigeria should be consolidating investments in education and strengthening protection systems, silence, complacency, or political point-scoring cannot be tolerated. The safety of children must transcend politics. CLEEN Foundation recalls the Federal Government’s launch of the Safe Schools Initiative, a crucial framework designed precisely to prevent such tragedies. The sad event is a clear indicator that the current measures are insufficient. We therefore call on the Federal and Kebbi State Governments to:
- Activate All Mechanisms for Immediate Rescue: Prioritize and deploy all necessary security and intelligence assets to ensure the swift and safe return of the abducted girls. Every moment is critical.
- Reinvigorate the Safe School Initiative: Conduct an immediate audit of the security provisions in schools across the country, beginning with the most vulnerable states. This must be followed by the tangible deployment of resources—including fortified infrastructure, trained security personnel, and technology—as envisioned by the initiative.
- Enhance Community-Security Collaboration: Strengthen early warning systems by fostering greater trust and collaboration between host communities and security agencies to improve intelligence gathering and rapid response.
Education is a fundamental right, and the safety of students is non-negotiable. We cannot allow a climate of fear to deprive a generation of their future. The CLEEN Foundation remains committed to supporting efforts that promote public safety, security, and justice in Nigeria. We urge all relevant authorities to act with utmost urgency and determination to bring our girls back home safely and to prevent a recurrence of this heartbreaking event.
Signed,
Peter Maduoma
Executive Director