Northern women under the umbrella of Voices for Inclusion and Equity for Women (VIEW) have condemned the abduction of 25 schoolgirls from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State.

In a strongly worded statement released on Wednesday and jointly signed by Asmau Joda, Maryam Uwais, Mairo Mandara, Aisha Oyebode, Fatima Akilu, Kadaria Ahmed, Larai Ocheja Amusan, and Ier Jonathan-Ichaver, the group described the attack as “a failure of leadership and another blow to the nation’s conscience.”

Gunmen had invaded the school in the early hours of Monday, killing the Vice Principal, Hassan Yakubu Makuku, before abducting 25 students.

“Northern Nigeria still one of the most dangerous places for a girl seeking education”

VIEW said the incident underscores the government’s repeated inability to secure schools, despite earlier mass kidnappings in Chibok, Dapchi, Kankara, Jangebe, and other communities.

“More than a decade after repeated mass abductions, Northern Nigeria is still one of the most dangerous places in the world for a girl seeking an education,” the group said.

Many of the signatories are members of the Bring Back Our Girls movement and have long worked with communities devastated by insecurity.

Failure of Safe Schools Initiative

The organisation insisted that the recurring kidnappings raise serious concerns about the government’s commitment to protecting schoolgirls who already face cultural and economic disadvantages. They added that the latest abduction exposes the failures of the Safe Schools Initiative, a programme designed to prevent such attacks.

VIEW’s Demands

The group called for:

An intelligence-led rescue operation

Daily public updates on efforts to secure the release of the abducted students

Visible action from:

The President

The First Lady

Kebbi State Government

Northern Governors’ Forum

Northern Senators’ Forum

Arewa caucuses in the National Assembly

Traditional rulers

Religious leaders

Security agencies

“This is not a moment for silence or excuses. The abduction of the Maga girls must be treated as a national emergency.”

“We are tired of condolences”

VIEW urged Nigerian women across the country to speak out, declaring that Northern women are exhausted from mourning and receiving condolences without meaningful action.

“The girls of Maga must be located, rescued and reunited with their families without delay. Their return is a test of leadership and humanity,” the statement added.