Press Release
Date: November 21st, 2025
Government Should Reform Security Architecture to Ensure Accountability for Lives And Property
The Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative, also known as Partners West Africa Nigeria, expresses deep concern over the escalating pattern of violent attacks on children, educational spaces, and security personnel across the country. The latest incidents further highlight the urgent need for comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s security architecture and enforceable accountability mechanisms:
- The abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State is an alarming violation of their rights and a recurring indicator of the vulnerability of girls in rural schooling environments.
- The abduction of at least 52 students from St. Mary’s School (Papiri) in Agwara LGA, Niger State, confirms the expansion of mass kidnappings into additional North-Central communities.
- The abduction of worshippers, including children, from a CAC Church in Kwara State, demonstrating that criminal groups are increasingly targeting both learning centres and religious spaces, exploiting gaps in state presence and local protection systems.
- The killing of a senior military officer in Borno State during counterinsurgency operations underscores the extreme risks borne by Nigeria’s defence forces and the continuing strain on national capacity to respond decisively to insurgent violence.
These incidents share common threads: deliberate attacks on civilians, the persistent targeting of vulnerable groups, and the erosion of trust in the state’s ability to protect its citizens across the North-West, North-Central, and North-East regions.
According to Partner West Africa – Nigeria’s Executive Director, Ms Kemi Okenyodo, “Under the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the State is duty-bound to protect the lives, liberty and property of all citizens. The recurrence of mass abductions—whether in schools, churches, or communities—signals clear gaps in preventive security measures and a failure to uphold constitutional safeguards essential for citizen safety, education, worship, and community stability.”
Partners West Africa – Nigeria calls for:
- Immediate, coordinated action by all relevant security agencies to secure the safe return of abducted children and worshippers, and to bring perpetrators to justice.
- Timely, transparent communication with affected families and the public to strengthen trust and manage misinformation.
- A nationwide, independent audit of school-and-community protection systems, including early-warning intelligence, rapid response capacity, and community-state coordination.
- Implementation of gender-sensitive and age-appropriate protection frameworks, especially for high-risk rural communities and religious institutions.
- Enhanced operational guidelines and deployment protocols for security personnel safeguarding schools, worship centres, and frontline communities.
- A unified national reform pathway involving federal, state and local authorities to institutionalise constitutional safeguards, credible oversight, and long-term prevention strategies.
Speaking further, Ms ‘Kemi Okenyodo said, “Nigeria cannot continue to lose its children, nor its protectors. These events must serve as a decisive call for urgent, transparent and accountable action to rebuild public trust and ensure the safety of every citizen.”
We stand in solidarity with affected families, communities and Nigeria’s armed and security forces. We reaffirm our commitment to advancing inclusive governance, strengthening security sector reform and promoting a Nigeria where every citizen is safe to learn, worship, live and participate.
For media inquiries or further information, please contact:
Ogechukwu Holly Mohanye
📞 Phone: 08091257245
📧 Email: info@partnersnigeria.org
🌐 Website: www.partnersnigeria.org
About us:
The Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative, also known as Partners West Africa Nigeria, is a women-led, non-governmental organisation dedicated to enhancing citizens’ participation, improving security governance, and strengthening protection systems across Nigeria and West Africa. Our work recognises that communities affected by insecurity, weak governance, and human rights violations require targeted interventions that safeguard lives, dignity, and access to justice. Our approach integrates humanitarian sensitivity, ensuring that reforms and security governance efforts address the needs of vulnerable populations.