Former Presidential Candidate Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies mourns the kidnap of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State
Former presidential candidate and women’s rights advocate Funmilayo Adesanya‑Davies expresses her profound sorrow and solidarity with the families of the 25 schoolgirls abducted and the school community in Maga, Kebbi State, following the brutal attack by gunmen that claimed the lives of a vice‐principal and a security guard.
“This heinous act strikes at the heart of our nation’s hope: the education and future of our girls. We mourn with you, we stand with you, and we demand swift action and justice,” Adesanya-Davies said.
Key Points:
On the early morning of Monday, November 17, the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga was attacked by unknown armed gunmen around 4:00 a.m. in Danko-Wasagu LGA, Kebbi State.
The assailants shot and killed the vice-principal, Hassan Yakubu Makuku, and a security guard while storming the school premises.
At least 25 schoolgirls were forcibly taken by the gunmen, and security forces have been deployed to search the nearby forest and recover them.
This event adds to the tragic pattern of school abductions in northwestern Nigeria, underscoring deeply rooted insecurity in the region.
Adesanya-Davies’s Response and Calls to Action:
- Call for Immediate Rescue and Safety Measures
Adesanya-Davies urges the federal and state governments to spare no effort in the immediate rescue of the abducted girls, and to provide robust security measures for all schools in vulnerable regions. - Protecting the Rights and Futures of Girls
As a former presidential candidate who championed girls’ education and women’s empowerment, she emphasizes that no child should live in fear of violence for seeking education. The kidnapping of schoolgirls is not just a security challenge — it is an attack on fundamental human rights and national development. - Support for the Bereaved and Survivors
She extends heartfelt condolences to the families of the slain vice-principal and security guard, and pledges to collaborate with civil society to support the affected school community — including trauma counselling, rehabilitation and ensuring the girls’ safe return to education. - Addressing the Underlying Crisis of Insecurity
Adesanya-Davies calls for a national strategy to tackle the root causes of such brutality: weak security infrastructure in rural areas, lack of funding for education in deprived regions, and the impunity of criminal networks. She emphasizes that genuine development cannot occur where girls cannot safely attend school.
Quote from Adesanya-Davies:
“When our daughters are taken, our future is stolen. We cannot stand quietly by. As a nation, we must act with urgency, restore safety to our schools, and reaffirm our commitment to educating every child — especially our girls.”
About Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies:
Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies is a Nigerian political figure, women’s rights advocate, and former presidential candidate. She has long been committed to advancing education, gender equality, and social reform across Nigeria.
For further information, interviews, or to arrange commentary, please contact:
[Office of Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies]
Nuhu Agum, PMACO
