Human rights activist Aisha Yesufu, co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, has urged Nigerians to demand immediate action from the Federal Government following the abduction of students from Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Kebbi State.

In a statement on X, Yesufu condemned the recurring abductions of schoolchildren across Nigeria, describing the incidents as a tragic and unbroken cycle. She pointed out that the Kebbi abduction mirrors past mass kidnappings in Chibok, Dapchi, Kankara, Jangebe, and Kuriga.

“We must fight for the girls as if they are our own. Because they are. Every child in this country is our responsibility. Every abduction is our shame. Every rescue delayed is a life destroyed. Let us not wait until we are carrying their bodies home. Let us not wait until they disappear forever,” Yesufu said.

The activist stressed that the government’s failure to protect citizens and secure schools emboldens terrorists. She urged Nigerians to hold leaders accountable, arguing that a government that cannot guarantee the safety of its people cannot claim legitimacy.

Yesufu recalled visiting an internally displaced persons’ camp in Durumi, Abuja, where she met victims who had lost homes and loved ones to insecurity. She warned that the country could face similar tragedies if urgent measures are not taken.

“The rescue of abducted students is not a privilege but a constitutional right. Silence only strengthens perpetrators. We must speak out and act now,” she insisted.

Concluding her statement, Yesufu prayed for the victims who lost their lives and warned that unless decisive steps are taken immediately, the cycle of tragedy will continue. She called for national unity and swift action to ensure that no child must choose between safety and education in Nigeria.