Nigeria’s Rising Wave of Abductions: A Call for Urgent National Action
Nigeria is witnessing an unprecedented surge in abductions, kidnappings, and violent attacks. This set of crises threatens not only the nation’s stability but also the lives and future of its most vulnerable citizens. Over the past weeks, the country has been shaken by a series of large-scale kidnappings that expose deep-rooted security failures and have left families, communities, and schools traumatized.
Help Initiative for Social Justice and Humanitarian Development is gravely concerned about the multiplying incidents of mass abductions and the growing climate of fear engulfing communities across the nation. As an organization committed to social justice, humanitarian development, and the protection of human rights, we believe it is imperative to bring national and global attention to the severity of these crises, and we demand urgent coordinated action.
Abduction of children in Niger State
On 21 November 2025, armed men raided St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, abducting 303 students and 12 teachers. The attack occurred in the early hours of the morning, when most children were still asleep. The assailants reportedly broke into dormitories, forced victims onto motorcycles and trucks, and escaped unchallenged into surrounding forests.
As of November 23, only 50 abducted children and teachers have managed to escape, leaving hundreds still unaccounted for. Families and communities remain in anguish, with no clear communication from authorities.
Abduction in Kebbi State
Just days before the Papiri attack, on 17 November 2025, gunmen stormed Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, abducting 25 female students. The attackers murdered Vice Principal Hassan Makuku, who was reportedly killed while trying to protect his students. The incident has heightened fear in the region, particularly among families with daughters in boarding schools.
These attacks are only the latest in a disturbing trend. Data released by SBM Intelligence indicates that between July 2024 and June 2025, Nigeria recorded: 4,722 abductions in 997 incidents, 762 deaths linked directly to kidnap-related violence, billions of naira paid in ransoms by families and communities.
The persistent targeting of schools, highways, rural villages, and religious institutions signals a deepening insecurity crisis that threatens national cohesion and development.
A Call for Immediate Government Action
Help Initiative urges the Federal Government of Nigeria and state governments to declare kidnapping a national emergency. The organization calls for an integrated, multi-level response that addresses the root causes, strengthens law enforcement, and restores public confidence.
Our key recommendations include:
1. Nationwide Security Mobilization: Immediate deployment of well-equipped security personnel to vulnerable rural communities, school districts, and major highways.
2. Intelligence-Led Operations: Enhanced surveillance technologies strengthened intelligence-sharing networks and specialized rapid-response units dedicated to preventing and responding to abductions.
3. Community-Based Security Structures: Partnerships with local vigilante groups, traditional rulers, and youth leaders to create trusted early-warning systems and support security operations.
4. Swift Justice and Accountability: Speedy prosecution of arrested suspects to deter future crimes, end impunity, and uphold the rule of law.
5. Support for Victims: Provision of psychosocial counseling, safe return programmes, educational reintegration, and financial support to victims and affected families.
6. Addressing Socioeconomic Drivers: Implementation of long-term strategies targeting poverty, unemployment, and arms proliferation is very important, knowing full well that unemployment, poverty, and arms proliferation are all underlying factors that fuel insecurity across Northern and Central Nigeria.
A Call to Nigerians and the International Community
The mass abductions in Niger and Kebbi States are not isolated events; they reflect a widening national crisis that requires collective resolve.
Help Initiative therefore calls on civil society groups to amplify advocacy for accountability and safety. In addition, media organizations should continue spotlighting the plight of affected families. The international community should provide support in the areas of intelligence, humanitarian relief, and capacity building.
All Nigerians to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities, and support efforts toward community protection.
No child should fear going to school. No community should live in terror. The future of Nigeria depends on restoring safety, dignity, and freedom for all its citizens.
Help Initiative for Social Justice and Humanitarian Development is a non-governmental organization dedicated to advancing human rights, promoting social equity, and providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations across Nigeria. Through advocacy, community outreach, and development programmes, we work to build a safer, more just society for all.