The Gender Educators Initiative (GEI) has urgently called on the Federal Government to act decisively and secure the safe release of schoolgirls abducted from Government Secondary School in Maga, Danko‑Wasagu LGA, Kebbi State. Through a statement released on Tuesday, Executive Lead Shafa’atu Suleiman condemned the raid as a “heinous and unacceptable assault” on the rights and safety of Nigerian children.
According to GEI, masked gunmen struck in the early hours of Monday, forcibly taking several students—an incident that amplifies fears about worsening insecurity in Nigeria’s North‑West region. The organisation appealed to the Federal Government to collaborate closely with Kebbi State authorities and security agencies to guarantee the “immediate and safe return” of the abducted girls.
Moreover, GEI expressed deep concern that women, girls, and children bear disproportionate suffering during such violent episodes. The group recommended bolstering the Safe Schools Initiative by investing in secure perimeter fencing, training dedicated security staff, and installing early‑warning systems in high‑risk rural areas. In addition, they urged enhanced community policing, more robust intelligence sharing, and expanded access to psychosocial support services for victims and their families.
GEI also emphasized that addressing root causes—such as poverty, unemployment, and limited educational opportunities—is essential to break the cycle of violence that makes school communities vulnerable to attack. Suleiman stressed that protecting women and children must lie at the heart of any national security strategy: “No child in Nigeria should have to choose between education and safety,” she declared.
By reaffirming solidarity with the Maga community and the families of the abducted, GEI implored authorities to act swiftly. Their message is clear: time is of the essence. The organisation remains hopeful that concerted action from the government will restore security, bring the girls home, and renew confidence in the future of education across Nigeria’s North‑West.
