Northern women under the umbrella of Voices for Inclusion and Equity for Women (VIEW) have condemned the abduction of 25 schoolgirls from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The group described the incident as a failure of leadership and another blow to the nation’s conscience.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by Asmau Joda, Maryam Uwais, Mairo Mandara, Aisha Oyebode, Fatima Akilu, Kadaria Ahmed, Larai Ocheja Amusan, and Ier Jonathan-Ichaver, VIEW highlighted that gunmen stormed the school in the early hours of Monday, killing the Vice Principal, Hassan Yakubu Makuku, and abducting 25 students. The organisation stressed that the tragedy underscores the ongoing insecurity across northern Nigeria.
The group pointed out that despite past mass kidnappings in Chibok, Dapchi, and Jangebe, schools in the region remain vulnerable to attacks. VIEW noted that recurring kidnappings raise serious questions about the government’s commitment to protecting girls, who already face social and economic disadvantages. They also criticized the failures of initiatives like the Safe Schools Initiative, which have yet to prevent such tragedies.
Many signatories of the statement have been active members of the Bring Back Our Girls movement and have worked with communities affected by insecurity. VIEW called for an intelligence-driven rescue operation and daily public updates on efforts to free the abducted students, stressing that authorities must avoid the slow responses seen in previous mass abductions.
The organisation also demanded visible action from all levels of leadership, including the President, First Lady, Kebbi State Government, Northern Governors’ Forum, Northern Senators’ Forum, Arewa caucuses in the National Assembly, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and security agencies. “This is not a moment for silence or excuses. The abduction of the Maga girls must be treated as a national emergency,” VIEW said.
VIEW urged Nigerian women to unite and speak out against the recurring kidnappings, emphasizing that northern women are tired of condolences without concrete action. The group concluded that the safe return of the Maga girls is both a test of leadership and a measure of humanity.