On November 17, 2025, gunmen invaded a girls’ boarding school in Maga, Kebbi State, Nigeria, abducting 25 students and fatally shooting the vice principal. As of November 19, 2025, one girl has escaped, but 24 are still unaccounted for, intensifying national and international concern.
PAUDEN condemns the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State as a direct assault on human dignity and continental advancement. Such acts perpetuate gender disparities, disrupt learning, and fuel instability, stalling progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
This Kebbi State schoolgirls abduction echoes past tragedies like Chibok, threatening the fabric of education and security in West Africa. PAUDEN condemns this atrocity unequivocally.
Our hearts go out to the victims’ families and the school community enduring this nightmare. PAUDEN urges immediate steps:
- Intensified rescue missions with advanced technology and community involvement.
- Support from the African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for cross-border intelligence sharing.
- Coordinated Nigerian government response, including no-ransom policies and victim support.
- Pan-African collaboration to address root causes like poverty and banditry.
The abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State must not become normalized.
Girls’ education is essential for Pan-African development. The Kebbi State schoolgirls abduction undermines our collective goals under Agenda 2063. PAUDEN pledges to mobilize resources for safe schools initiatives, community empowerment and remains committed to advocacy and support for affected regions.
This is a defining moment. Silence or inaction emboldens criminals. PAUDEN urges every African and friend of Africa to share this message, contact representatives, and support organizations providing trauma care and education advocacy.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the abducted girls. Africa will not be silent. The girls must return home safely.
Together, we will prevail.