NANS Frowns At Kebbi School Abduction, Seeks Immediate Rescue Of Victims

Nigeria’s apex students association, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed concerns over the renewed wave of kidnap of students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, where gunmen killed the Vice Principal and abducted 25 female students.

Irked by the dawn raid on innocent school children by kidnappers, NANS described the incident in Kebbi State, as “A national heartbreak” and “one tragedy too many.”

NANS Director of Students’ Affairs, Shotunde Abdulghaffar, in an open letter dated November 19, 2025, expressed deep sorrow over the attack, warning that the continuous targeting of school children threatens the future of the Nigerian children and the entire country.

According to the association, the abduction of the young girls, described as children with dreams and ambitions, has once again exposed the vulnerability of students in Nigeria’s educational system.

The students body lamented that the kidnap of students has become recurring as victims of insecurity, a reality it said should not exist in a civilized and democratic nation.

Comrade Shotunde emphasised that schools are meant to be “Sanctuaries of hope, not grounds for horror,” adding that no parent should have to live in fear while sending their children to school.

NANS declared full solidarity with the affected families, stating that “Their daughters are our daughters.”

Shotunde, in the statement made available to Daily Independent, outlined a set of urgent demands to the Federal Government.

Among NANS demands are, “Swift and unconditional rescue of all abducted students—without delay, without excuses, without bureaucratic hesitation.

“Deployment of reinforced security around all vulnerable schools in the North and other high-risk regions.

“A national overhaul of the Safe School Initiative, converting it from mere policy text to real, actionable protection.

“Arrest and prosecution of all individuals and collaborators responsible for this wickedness and

“Direct engagement with NANS leadership to build a sustainable security partnership for student safety nationwide.”

The association also called for the arrest and prosecution of all individuals involved in the attack, as well as direct engagement between Federal authorities and NANS leadership to establish a sustainable security framework for students nationwide.

While acknowledging the efforts of government security agencies, NANS stressed that Nigerian students are “tired of mourning and tired of writing condolences” over recurring tragedies.

The association urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the relevant security institutions to take decisive action, warning that “a nation that cannot protect its students has already failed its future.”

NANS affirmed its commitment to defending the rights and safety of all Nigerian students, stating that it is open to collaboration with the government but will not remain silent while students’ lives remain at risk.

The body insisted that the abducted girls must be rescued and reunited with their families, noting that Nigeria “owes them that much.”