NOA Condemns Abduction of Kebbi Schoolgirls, Attack on Worshippers in Kwara

NOA Condemns Abduction of Kebbi Schoolgirls, Attack on Worshippers in Kwara

Abiola Adigun|Albarka FM| Ilorin| November 20 2025

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has condemned the abduction of 25 students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Kebbi State, and the attack on Christian worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State, describing both incidents as “senseless” and a threat to national unity.
In a statement on Thursday, Director-General of the Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi represented a grave violation of children’s rights and a setback to ongoing national efforts to promote education, especially for girls in vulnerable communities.
He said the attack was a “reprehensible act that violates the fundamental rights of children to safety and education,” noting that no society could progress when schools — meant to be safe spaces — become targets of violence.
“No child seeking education should ever be put at risk,” Issa-Onilu said. “Schools must remain safe spaces where children can learn, grow and aspire without fear.”
The DG equally expressed concern over the attack on worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State, where armed men invaded a church, abducting some members. Issa-Onilu described the incident as “senseless and unacceptable,” warning that such actions threaten the peace and religious harmony built over the years.
“Freedom of worship is a fundamental right enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution,” he said. “Any act that seeks to intimidate or harm citizens based on their faith is not only unlawful but deeply unpatriotic.”
A statement signed by Paul Odenyi, Deputy Director, Communication and Media of NOA said the Director General
assured Nigerians that security agencies, acting on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive, are intensifying coordinated operations and intelligence efforts to secure the release of the abducted schoolgirls and worshippers.
Providing context on NOA’s interventions, Issa-Onilu explained that the Agency’s monthly National Security Briefing was designed to keep citizens informed about the progress made by security and regulatory bodies in combating insecurity nationwide.
He also urged the public to actively support security efforts by providing credible information that could help prevent attacks or aid rescue operations.