Kebbi Students Abduction: In Grief, NANS President, Ladoja Calls for Urgent Action, Urges Security Reforms
The president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Olushola Oladoja has lamented Kebbi state students abduction and called for urgent action following the school.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) is grappling with overwhelming grief following a tragic attack at the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State. This incident, which took place on November 17, 2025—coinciding with the celebration of International Students’ Day—resulted in the brutal killing of Vice Principal Mr. Hassan Yakubu Makuku, along with the abduction of 25 female students by armed assailants.
International Students’ Day is traditionally a moment for honoring the resilience and potential of students worldwide. However, this year, the day has been marred by an act of violence and despair, leaving the Nigerian student community in shock.
NANS had intended to commemorate the day with awards celebrating outstanding academic achievements, including:
- ₦100,000 cash prizes for the top ten students in each faculty at the University of Abuja.
- Laptops for the best performers in the 2025 WAEC, NECO, and JAMB examinations.
- A ₦200,000 cash award for the Nigerian winner of the TeenEagle International English Language Competition.
- Additional recognition for students showcasing leadership and innovation.
Instead of festivities, the Nigerian student body finds itself again responding to a heartbreaking crisis. The recent abduction has triggered memories of previous tragedies, including the infamous mass kidnapping in Chibok, Borno State, in 2014, and several abductions across Northern Nigeria in states like Katsina, Niger, Yobe, and Kaduna.
This series of events underscores a critical demand for effective preventive security measures to safeguard schools from such targeted attacks. NANS has condemned this act of terror and is calling on the Federal Government, the Kebbi State Government, and the entire security apparatus to utilize all available resources for the immediate rescue of the kidnapped students.
In their statement, NANS outlined several urgent demands:
- A strong condemnation of the attack perpetrated by criminals.
- An appeal for the deployment of all necessary resources to recover the abducted students.
- A demand for proactive security measures around educational institutions, particularly girls’ boarding schools.
- The implementation of intelligence-driven operations to dismantle the networks facilitating these abductions.
“Students—especially female students—must never be targets of terror. Enough is enough,” stated NANS President Comr. Olushola Oladoja.
NANS extended heartfelt condolences to Mr. Makuku’s family, praising his courage in resisting the attackers. They also expressed their support for the families of the kidnapped students and emphasized a unified call for their safe return.
On this International Students’ Day, rather than celebrating achievements, the student community stands united in mourning and determination to protect the rights and safety of every Nigerian student.
