Global human rights organization Amnesty International has strongly condemned the abduction of at least 25 schoolgirls from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School (GGCSS) in Maga, Kebbi State, early Monday morning.
In a statement, Amnesty described the attack as another tragic consequence of the Nigerian government’s ongoing failure to protect citizens from armed groups. “Our findings show that the girls were abducted by gunmen who invaded the school around 5:00 am today,” the organization said, calling it a “shocking indictment of the authorities’ persistent inability to prevent attacks that have killed thousands of Nigerians over the past decade.”
The Kebbi State Police confirmed the abduction, noting that the assailants, heavily armed, engaged police officers on duty before scaling the school’s perimeter fence to forcibly remove the students. The attack left one staff member dead and another injured.
Amnesty International criticized the government’s current security measures as ineffective, warning that without decisive action, Nigeria risks normalizing child abductions. The organization urged federal and state authorities to intensify efforts for the safe release of the schoolgirls, conduct transparent investigations into recurring abductions, bring perpetrators to justice, and implement effective school security measures.
The human rights body also reminded Nigeria of its obligations under the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, emphasizing that children have the right to protection and education, and called on the government to take immediate steps to ensure a safe learning environment.
