Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has condemned the Nigerian Police Force over what he described as a “shameful and consistent failure” to prevent the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State. Sowore, speaking publicly following the incident, said the police and other security agencies had grown “comfortable in incompetence,” leading to repeated tragedies that could have been avoided.
Sowore insisted that the kidnapping was not a mere lapse but a reflection of deeper structural failures, including corruption, weak intelligence gathering, and poor security prioritization. He argued that Nigeria’s security architecture has become reactive rather than preventive, allowing terrorists and bandits to dictate the pace of violence across rural communities.
According to him, the same pattern continues: credible intelligence is given by locals, warnings are ignored, and communities are left at the mercy of heavily armed groups.
International attention has also begun to mount. A U.S. Congressman, who has frequently commented on insecurity in Nigeria, expressed concern over the Kebbi abduction, stating that the incident reinforces global fears about the safety of Nigerian schoolchildren—particularly girls. He urged the Nigerian government to overhaul its security strategy and collaborate more deeply with international partners to curb the epidemic of kidnappings.
The lawmaker’s comments sparked debate within Nigeria about foreign involvement in domestic security affairs. Some Nigerians appreciated the show of global solidarity, while others questioned why foreign governments seem more vocal about the safety of Nigerian students than Nigeria’s own political leadership.
Sowore echoed this sentiment, noting that Nigerians have grown used to hearing condolences and promises from the government instead of witnessing decisive action. He criticized what he described as “performative outrage” by state officials who routinely visit crime scenes without implementing long-term solutions.
In the aftermath of the abduction, the U.S. lawmaker also raised concerns about the broader impact of insecurity on Nigeria’s economic future, educational advancement, and diplomatic standing. The lawmaker cited education as a fundamental human right and emphasized that no nation can prosper when its schools become battlegrounds.
Sowore demanded immediate accountability from the Inspector General of Police and state security leadership. He further called for a transparent investigation into what went wrong and why actionable intelligence was not utilized before the attack.
Parents of the abducted girls remain distraught, with many gathering at the school premises daily in hopes of receiving updates. Several emotional videos circulating online show mothers crying uncontrollably, pleading with the government to rescue their daughters alive.
Security analysts warn that without robust reforms, kidnappings will continue to rise as bandit groups expand their operations. With rising inflation and poverty, some communities have become increasingly vulnerable to criminal infiltration, and security agencies are struggling to keep pace. The Kebbi abduction has once again brought Nigeria’s insecurity crisis into international headlines. Whether this renewed pressure will lead to meaningful policy changes remains to be seen, but the voices demanding accountability both at home and abroad grow louder by the day.