A member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewumi Adeyemi, has blamed security lapses for the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State, saying the incident highlights the urgent need to review Nigeria’s security strategy.
The attack occurred late Sunday night at Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, where gunmen stormed the school, killing the vice principal, Malami Hassan Yakubu, and abducting 25 students.
Reacting on Wednesday, Adeyemi said the abduction exposed persistent weaknesses in intelligence gathering, preventive security measures, and coordination among agencies tasked with protecting vulnerable communities.
He said, “There are moments when a nation must pause and ask itself hard questions. This is one of those moments. The abduction of twenty-five schoolgirls in Kebbi State is another painful reminder of how fragile the safety of the Nigerian child has become.
“Schools, which should be the safest places for learning and growth, are once again violated by gunmen who operate with troubling ease. Families are grieving, communities are traumatised, and a nation is left wondering when this cycle will finally end.”
Adeyemi added that the attacks reflect deeper structural problems within Nigeria’s security system, including intelligence gaps, weak preventive systems, slow response capacity, poor coordination among agencies, and unclear operational command lines.
He urged the government to overhaul security operations by strengthening internal systems, equipping agencies with better tools, and establishing clear mandates to improve efficiency.
“Our security agencies need better tools, clearer mandates, and stronger support. Our schools need fortified safety structures. Our communities need early-warning systems. And our political leadership at every level must prioritise the lives and welfare of the people above every other consideration,” he said.
Adeyemi also called on authorities to prioritise school safety and implement early-warning mechanisms within communities to prevent further tragedies.
