The abduction of more than 25 schoolgirls from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS), Maga, in Kebbi State early Wednesday has drawn intense condemnation, with Amnesty International describing the incident as a glaring sign of the government’s continued failure to protect Nigerians from armed groups.

According to reports the attack occurred around 5:00 a.m., when gunmen stormed the school, killed the security guard and the vice principal, and forced a resident of the staff quarters at gunpoint to lead them to the girls’ hostel before abducting the students.

Amnesty International said the latest mass abduction highlights the absence of an effective security strategy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite years of escalating violence across the country.

“Whatever security measures are being implemented are clearly not working,” the organization warned.

It urged the Federal Government to take urgent, concrete measures to ensure the safe rescue and return of the abducted girls, while demanding a prompt, thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into recurring school attacks.

“The findings must be made public, and perpetrators brought to justice in fair trials,” Amnesty said.

The group criticized Nigerian authorities for failing to secure schools in high-risk areas, noting that repeated abductions have severely discouraged school attendance, especially among girls.

“These failures have triggered a decline in school enrollment, a major setback for girls’ education,” it added.

Amnesty International called on the government to comply with the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, stressing that Nigerian children have an undeniable right to safety and education.

“Authorities must take immediate and concrete steps to prevent abductions that are gradually becoming the norm,” the organization stated.