The kidnapping crisis in Northern Nigeria has reached a boiling point: 19 Northern governors are convening an emergency meeting in Kaduna State on November 29, 2025, to tackle the rising wave of abductions and banditry sweeping across the region.
This high-stakes summit follows a security conclave earlier this week among South-West governors in Ibadan, who urged the creation of state police to stem the increasing tide of violence.
What’s Driving the Emergency Meeting?
Peter Ahemba, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Nasarawa State, confirmed that the Northern Governors Forum is not calling this gathering for appearances — they are scrambling to come up with real, actionable steps to confront the surge in kidnappings, bandit attacks, and general insecurity.
“In recent weeks, we have witnessed an alarming increase in attacks on schools,” Ahemba said in Lafia. “Governors will deliberate concrete measures to shield citizens and strengthen support for security agencies.”
Governors are not just talking — some states are already acting. Across the North, several state governments have shut down schools entirely in response to abductions. It’s a desperate gamble: protect lives at the expense of education.
Kidnappings Have Gone From Horrifying to Routine
- In Kebbi State, gunmen stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga around 4 a.m., abducting 25 schoolgirls and killing the vice principal, Malam Hassan Yakubu Makuku, who reportedly tried to defend his students.
- Two of the abducted girls have since escaped, but the rest remain missing.
- In Niger State, over 300 students and staff were kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri — one of the worst mass abductions in recent memory.
These aren’t isolated incidents. They are part of a grim pattern: schools in remote or under-secured regions are being treated like soft targets by criminal networks.
National Institutions & Civil Society Sound the Alarm
- The Senate has called for the immediate rescue of the kidnapped Kebbi girls and is pushing for the recruitment of 100,000 security personnel to bolster Nigeria’s overstretched forces.
- Save the Children condemned the Kebbi abduction, warning that recurring school attacks traumatize students and undermine education.
- The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) demanded proactive protection for vulnerable schools.
- The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) warned that repeated school attacks are crippling girl-child education in the North.
The Heavy Response: High-Level Security Moves
- President Bola Tinubu dispatched Vice President Kashim Shettima to Kebbi to reassure families.
- He ordered Defence Minister Bello Matawalle to temporarily relocate to Kebbi to oversee rescue operations.
- Security analysts welcomed Matawalle’s deployment, saying it could accelerate intelligence and recovery efforts.
- Lt-Gen Waidi Shaibu, the Army Chief of Staff, directed troops to conduct round-the-clock, intelligence-driven operations.
State-Level Crackdowns & Shutdowns
- Multiple Northern states — including Yobe, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Sokoto, Katsina, Niger, and Taraba — have shut down boarding schools after credible threats.
- In Gombe State, police boosted surveillance around remote schools and strengthened communication lines with communities.
- The Bauchi State Government shut down all primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions due to overwhelming security concerns.
Bigger Picture: Why It’s Getting Worse
Security analysts say this isn’t just about armed groups — it is evidence of deeper, structural failures:
- Weak intelligence sharing among states
- Under-resourced security agencies
- Slow, politicised responses to emerging threats
- Limited engagement of local communities in prevention
What’s Next: What We Expect From the Kaduna Summit
The November 29 meeting will be a defining moment. Governors are expected to adopt bold, unified strategies such as:
- A regional intelligence-sharing platform for Northern states
- A dedicated security fund for at-risk schools
- Deployment of forest guards and trained vigilante units in high-risk areas
- A cross-state rapid-response task force with the mandate to intervene beyond state borders
The stakes are high — inaction is no longer an option. The kidnapping wave sweeping northern Nigeria is not just another security challenge. It is a direct assault on education, stability, and the future of millions of children. Governors gathering in Kaduna have a duty to meet this moment with courage, coordination, and urgency.