How Nigeria can end recurring mass school abductions

By Aisha Aliyu Brigade The recent abduction of students in Kebbi State and Niger State again shook the nation’s conscience and exposed the persistent fragility of Nigeria’s security architecture. The back-to-back invasion of Government Girls Secondary School in Maga and St Mary’s School in Papiri is not an isolated tragedy but part of a long, […]

By Aisha Aliyu Brigade

The recent abduction of students in Kebbi State and Niger State again shook the nation’s conscience and exposed the persistent fragility of Nigeria’s security architecture. The back-to-back invasion of Government Girls Secondary School in Maga and St Mary’s School in Papiri is not an isolated tragedy but part of a long, painful pattern that targets the most vulnerable: young girls seeking education.

This latest attack evokes haunting memories of similar incidents, including the June 2021 kidnapping of over 80 students and staff at the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri; the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls abduction; and the Zamfara schoolgirls kidnapping in 2021. Each episode deepens national trauma while raising urgent questions about how such brazen violations of children’s rights remain possible.

In many areas, particularly in the northwest and northeast, girlhood has become perilous. The ages of the abducted—between 13 and 18—highlight the cruel reality: young schoolgirls have become the preferred targets of ruthless criminal gangs. Beyond the personal anguish inflicted on families, these kidnappings destabilize communities, instill fear, and undermine confidence in the education system.

Despite repeated assurances by officials, criticisms regarding the handling of national security mount. Many Nigerians believe the state has not demonstrated an effective strategy capable of deterring or dismantling the criminal networks behind these atrocities. The government’s decision to place security agencies on high alert is commendable, but citizens are skeptical because such directives have been issued over and over.

The pressing question is: why are schoolgirls mostly targeted? The answer, though unsettling, is simple: abducting schoolchildren—especially girls—guarantees maximum publicity, swift government response, and potentially lucrative ransom payments. Gangs realized that the authorities react more urgently to mass school kidnappings than to attacks on travelers or villages. This has unintentionally incentivized the abduction of students, turning young girls into bargaining chips.

It is, therefore, imperative for the government to rethink its approach. Engaging in negotiations or ransom payments, whether directly or indirectly, feeds a vicious cycle. Instead of having to regularly react to crises, Nigeria must channel its energy and resources to prevent them by dismantling criminal networks, strengthening intelligence systems, and improving surveillance in vulnerable regions.

Security agencies must be empowered not only to go after criminals but to eliminate the conditions that allow banditry to flourish—poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, and weak policing infrastructure. Schools, especially in rural and conflict-prone areas, must receive increased security presence and be integrated into early-warning systems. This includes deploying trained security personnel, alarm systems, perimeter fences, and stronger collaboration with communities.

Communities should be engaged as partners in security. Local vigilance, timely reporting, traditional authority involvement, and community-based security initiatives have proven effective in several areas when supported by the government. Moreover, victims of abduction and their families deserve psychological, educational, and financial support long after the headlines fade.

Everyone is tired of hearing and seeing breaking news of abductions of innocent students, as it is a sad reminder that Nigeria is failing its children, who seek nothing more than the chance to learn and pursue their dreams without fear. The pain of the people should serve as a national wake-up call—one that demands urgent, decisive, and sustained action.

Nigeria can no longer afford to normalize a climate where classrooms become hunting grounds for criminals. The future of the nation depends on the safety of its youth. Protecting schoolgirls must be treated not as a seasonal priority but as a national emergency. The country must rise collectively—government, security agencies, communities, and citizens—to break this cycle of violence and reclaim our schools, our safety, and our future.

Aisha Aliyu Brigade can be reached via Email: [email protected]