Abduction of schoolgirls in Nigeria’s Kebbi State
18 November 2025Armed men abducted 25 schoolgirls in Nigeria’s Kebbi State in the early hours of Monday, 17 November 2025, according to reports. Attackers killed the vice principal and abducted the principal along with the students.
Plan International Nigeria’s Country Director, Charles Usie, condemns this abduction and calls for the immediate protection of children across Nigeria:
“This tragic incident reinforces the urgent need to strengthen the protection of children in all learning environments. It also reflects a distressing pattern of repeated attacks on schools across Nigeria.
“The country cannot continue to witness the abduction of children who simply want to learn. Every girl in Nigeria has a right to safety and education without fear. The kidnapping of the girls in Kebbi State is heartbreaking and completely unacceptable.
“This is not an isolated event. Nigeria has faced a disturbing history of school attacks including the abduction of the Chibok girls in 2014, the Dapchi girls in 2018, and multiple mass kidnappings by armed groups across the northern region.
“In 2021, 317 schoolgirls were abducted in Jangebe, Zamfara State. In the same year, students and teachers were taken from Government Science College Kagara in Niger State. In 2020, 303 school children were kidnapped from Government Science Secondary School Kankara in Katsina State.
“We call for swift action by all security and intelligence agencies to locate and safely rescue the abducted girls and their principal.”
Charles Usie, Country Director, Nigeria.
“These recurring attacks continue to traumatise families and weaken the confidence of parents in both the education system and the ability of government to protect their children. We call for swift action by all security and intelligence agencies to locate and safely rescue the abducted girls and their principal.
“We also call for stronger community-based protection systems, improved early warning mechanisms, and increased investment in school safety across all states. Plan International stands with the families and communities affected by this attack.
“Our organisation remains committed to supporting efforts that protect children, especially girls, and ensure that they can learn in safe and supportive environments. Every child deserves to go to school without fear. Every girl deserves to live and learn in safety. Nigeria must ensure that such tragedies are not repeated.”
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