Global human rights body, the Amnesty International has condemned the early Monday morning abduction of no fewer than 25 schoolgirls from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School (GGCSS), Maga, in Kebbi State.
Amnesty International described the incident as yet another tragic consequence of the Nigerian government’s failure to protect its citizens from armed groups.
In a statement issued on Monday, the global human rights organisation decried the mass abductions of the schoolgirls.
According to Amnesty International, the incident “is a shocking indictment of the authorities’ persistent failure to protect people from attacks by armed groups that have killed thousands of Nigerians in the last decade.”
The organisation noted, “Our findings show that the girls were abducted by gunmen that invaded the school around 5:00 am today.”
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Kebbi State Police Command confirmed that no fewer than 25 students were abducted from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, early Monday morning.
The attack, carried out by heavily armed bandits, left one staff member dead and another injured, according to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafi’u Abubakar Kotarkoshi.
The incident reportedly occurred around 4am when the assailants stormed the school and engaged police officers on duty in a fierce gun battle.
Despite the officers’ efforts, the attackers scaled the school’s perimeter fence and forcibly removed the students from their hostel.
The police spokesperson confirmed that one Hassan Makuku lost his life during the attack, while Ali Shehu sustained gunshot injuries to his right hand.
Amnesty International said the latest abduction demonstrates the government’s lack of an effective strategy to curb growing insecurity.
“The latest mass abductions clearly show President Bola Tinubu and his government have no effective plan for ending years of atrocities by armed groups and gunmen that are increasingly having a free rein across many parts of Nigeria,” it noted.
It added that “whatever security measures are being implemented by President Tinubu and his government are clearly not working.”
Amnesty International called on the Nigerian authorities to intensify efforts to secure the safe release of the abducted students and ensure their immediate return to their families.
“The organization is calling on the Nigerian government to take all necessary measures to ensure the safe release and return of the girls abducted to their families,” the statement read.
