Constance Meju
As Nigerians continue to condemn the recent incident of abduction of 25 girls from a secondary school in Kebbi State and the killing of the school’s vice principal, a coalition of national women leaders pushing for more female presence in the National Assembly, the Reserved Seats for Women Bill Campaign Coalition has issued a statement calling for more lasting solutions to the insecurity in the country and those threatening women and girls.
In a statement dated November 20 signed by the coalition’s communication lead, Hammed Adejare expressed worry that at a time education should be seen as a pathway to , such incidents are rising as obstacles to the girlchild.
The women who empathized with the families and communities of those affected, called for actions beyond the recovery of the abduction to ensure an end to the traumatic and embarrassing situation.
Below is the full press statement:
Statement from the National Secretariat of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill Campaign Coalition on the Abduction of School Girls in Kebbi State
The National Secretariat of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill Campaign Coalition is saddened by the abduction of school girls in Kebbi State.
Our hearts are with the affected families, school communities, and all those whose lives have been disrupted by this heartbreaking event.
At a time when education should be a pathway to empowerment, especially for girls, it is painful to witness continued threats to their safety and freedom.
We stand in solidarity with the people of Kebbi, and all communities impacted by insecurity, and we urge a coordinated response that places the well-being of the victims and their families at the center.
Let this moment be a call for strengthened support systems that ensure that no child is left unprotected in the pursuit of education.
Beyond immediate action, we must renew our collective commitment to long-term strategies that prioritize safe learning environments for every child in Nigeria.
This includes the implementation and continuous strengthening of national and subnational policies that embed security infrastructure into the fabric of our education system.
Sustained legislation around Safe Schools is not just necessary, it is urgent.
We call on all stakeholders, government, civil society, traditional leaders, and the international community, to work collaboratively and persistently to ensure that our schools are sanctuaries, not targets. The safety of our children, especially our girls, must be non-negotiable. We owe them more than outrage, we owe them action.
