Human rights activist and co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, Aisha Yesufu, has called on Nigerians to rise and demand urgent action from the Federal Government following the abduction of students of Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Kebbi State.
In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, Yesufu condemned the recurring abduction of schoolchildren in the country, describing it as a tragic cycle that Nigeria has refused to break.
She said the latest incident mirrors previous mass abductions, including those in Chibok, Dapchi, Kankara, Jangebe and Kuriga.
“We must fight for the girls as if they are our own. Because they are. Every child in this country is our responsibility. Every abduction is our shame. Every rescue delayed is a life destroyed. Let us not wait until we are carrying their bodies home. Let us not wait until they disappear forever,” she said.
Yesufu stressed that the failure of the government to protect lives and secure schools continues to embolden terrorists, adding that citizens must hold leaders accountable. According to her, no government can be regarded as legitimate if it cannot guarantee the safety of its people.
She recalled visiting an internally displaced persons’ camp in Durumi, Abuja, where she interacted with victims who had lost their homes and loved ones due to insecurity, noting that their suffering reflects what awaits the country if urgent measures are not taken.
The activist urged Nigerians to speak out and avoid treating the incident as distant or personal, warning that silence only strengthens perpetrators. She insisted that the rescue of abducted students is not a privilege but a constitutional right.
Yesufu emphasised that Nigeria must learn from its past and unite in demanding immediate action, insisting that no child should have to choose between safety and education.
She prayed for the victims who lost their lives and warned that unless urgent and decisive steps are taken, the cycle of tragedy will continue.
