2

 The Sultan of Sokoto-led Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has condemned the abduction of schoolgirls from the Government Girls Compre­hensive Secondary School(GGCSS), Maga, Danko-Wasagu Local Gov­ernment Area of Kebbi State, de­scribing the incident as “heartless, tragic and utterly avoidable”.

It called for urgent action to se­cure the release of the schoolgirls.

InastatementissuedonWednes­day, JNI lamented that the incident is coming just days after a security summit held in Birnin-Kebbi on November 10, 2025, describing the incident as “one tragedy too many to bear.”

The organisation in the state­ment issued by JNI Secretary-Gen­eral, Prof. Khalid Abubakar-Aliyu, said it received news of the abduc­tion “with absolute shock,” noting that the attack followed a familiar pattern seen in previous mass ab­ductions of schoolgirls in the North.

“The tragic and heartless but avoidable recurring abduction of schoolgirls remains utterly condem­nable in its entirety. This is coming after several similar incidents of Chibok, Dapchi, then Kankara, Kagara and now Maga. This is too much to bear on the parents,” JNI said.

The Islamic body expressed concern that despite years of re­peated school abductions, adequate surveillance and security presence were still missing around boarding schools, especially those known to be vulnerable.

“Ordinarily and ethically, the school abduction should have been thwarted. Expectedly, security sur­veillance ought to have been ade­quately provided within the radius of the school. The trend in board­ing-school abductions should have compelled proactive measures,” the statement added.

The JNI also faulted what it de­scribed as poor coordination among security agencies in Kebbi State, re­calling the recent abduction of the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, who was later released after ransom was allegedly paid.

The Islamic body said, “A rea­sonable analysis will conclude that there is apparent lack of synergy between security operatives in Kebbi State. Criminals brazenly act unchallenged, and we are genuinely worried. What could be the factors? Why is there no information from government quarters relating to efforts made in the rescue process to assuage the anxieties of parents and guardians?”

The organisation likened the Maga attack to the Chibok and Dap­chi abductions, which occurred in similar “commando-style raids.”

“With nostalgia, discerning minds could recall that the Chibok abduction happened in a similar manner, just as it happened in Dap­chi. Yet we are visited with another tragic schoolgirls’ abduction. Havewe not learnt anything?” JNI queried.

It further questioned how the attackers gained easy access into the school, saying the circumstanc­es raised troubling concerns about intelligence gathering.

“Does it mean that when they were coming, no security or infor­mants provided any hint?” JNI asked, adding, “Indeed, there is much more than meets the eye in the way the fight against banditry, insurgency and insurrections is being handled in Nigeria.”

The JNI warned that persistent attacks on schools were undermin­ing years of advocacy for girl-child education in the North.

“No parent will now be comfort­able, especially in our local environ­ments, to allow their daughters go to suchcallouslyunprotectedschools,” it said. “And the North is the loser. This is a wake-up call to quiescent northern governors.”

The body expressed condolences to the family of the vice principal who was reportedly killed during the attack, as well as parents of the abducted students.

“We commiserate with the fam­ilies of the killed vice-principal, par­ents of the Maga girls’ victims and wish them safe reunion,” it added.

“We pray for Allah’s guidance, strength and stamina for all those on the battlefields against criminalities in Nigeria.”

Consequently, the JNI called on the Federal Government to deploy all available measures to ensure the immediate rescue of the Maga schoolgirls as well as those still in captivity from the Dapchi and Chi­bok abductions.

“It is time for decisive action, no more rhetoric. Enough should be enough,” the group declared.