Save the Children international SCI has condemned the abduction of 25 students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, urging the government to act immediately to secure their release and strengthen the protection of schools nationwide.
Armed attackers reportedly invaded the school in the early hours of Monday, 17 November 2025, killing a staff member and injuring another before abducting the girls and moving them to an unknown location. The organisation described the incident as a stark reminder of the persistent threats facing education, particularly in the northwest where insecurity continues to disrupt learning.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Country Director of Save the Children Nigeria, Duncan Harvey called the attack “a grave violation of children’s rights,” stressing that no child should be exposed to violence while in school. He underscored Nigeria’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Child Rights Act, noting that education is a fundamental right that must be protected.
Save the Children urged the Federal Government and the Kebbi State Government to act swiftly and decisively to rescue the abducted students and bring the perpetrators to justice. The organisation also called for strengthened security measures in high risk areas, including improved early warning systems, community based protection structures and rapid response mechanisms to prevent future attacks.
The organisation further emphasised the need for full enforcement of the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence Free Schools and the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools to ensure that learning environments remain safe for all children.According to Save the Children’s Education Under Attack in Nigeria report, at least 70 attacks on schools were recorded across the country between February 2014 and December 2022 with 49 incidents occurring in the Northwest.
Within that period, 1,683 learners were abducted, 184 were killed and 25 school buildings were destroyed. The Kebbi incident marks the first major school abduction since March 2024, when over 200 pupils were kidnapped from Kuriga in Kaduna State. they called for long term investment in tackling the root causes of insecurity, including poverty, unemployment and weak governance structures.
The organisation reiterated that education must never be compromised and urged governments, communities and partners to work together to ensure that every child can learn in a safe and protected environment.
