Summary
Former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili warned that systemic corruption has crippled Nigeria’s institutions and left the country unable to protect schoolchildren from mass abductions. She emphasised that the failure of the presidency to bring back school children, including Kebbi girls, makes continued government illegitimate.
Former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili has warned that Nigeria’s failure to address systemic corruption has fatally weakened key state institutions, leaving the country unable to safeguard schoolchildren from abductions.
Recall that on Nov. 17, 2025, gunmen stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, killing the vice principal and abducting 25 schoolgirls from their dormitory.
On November 24, 2025, Oby said corruption had metastasised into Nigeria’s political culture, compromising once strong institutions. Citing data from UNICEF and Save the Children, she highlighted that more than 1,680 students were abducted in 70 attacks between 2014 and 2022. An additional 816 students were taken in 22 attacks between 2023 and November 2025.
According to her, the recurring abductions demonstrate insecurity and state collapse in its most basic duty, emphasising that the latest abducted children are hostages of the unforgivable failure of governments and the political class that refuse to be moved.
Oby added that any government that fails to rescue abducted children or secure schools cannot claim legitimate authority.
“Let it be known that to continue to govern without rescuing all our abducted children and protecting the rest in their schools is the highest acceptance of @NGRPresident that he governs without Legitimacy,” Oby said.
While the Nigerian president has released statements about the recovery of people rescued from abduction, including church members in Kwara state, there has yet to be a rescue of the 25 girls abducted by terrorists in the Kwara state government school.
