Nigeria has failed its future if Kebbi schoolgirls are not rescued now

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a strongly worded message to the Federal Government following the recent abduction of female students in Kebbi State, describing the incident as “a national heartbreak” and “one tragedy too many.”

In an open letter dated November 19, 2025, and signed by its Director of Students’ Affairs, Shotunde Abdulghaffar, the student body expressed deep sorrow over the attack, warning that the continuous targeting of schoolchildren threatens the future of the country.

According to NANS, 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 body lamented that students have become recurring victims of insecurity, a reality it said should not exist in a civilised and democratic nation.

Shotunde emphasised that schools were 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.

The association declared full solidarity with the affected families, stating that “their daughters are our daughters.”

Shotunde outlined a set of urgent demands to the Federal Government.

These include the swift and unconditional rescue of all abducted students, immediate deployment of reinforced security to vulnerable schools in the North and other high-risk regions, and a comprehensive overhaul of the Safe School Initiative to ensure practical, on-ground protection rather than mere policy rhetoric.

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 were “tired of mourning and tired of writing condolences” over recurring tragedies.

The association urged President Bola 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.”