The National Orientation Agency, NOA, has condemned the abduction of 25 students at the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi State and the attack on worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State.
In a statement on Thursday, Lanre Issa-Onilu, the Director-General of NOA, described the Kebbi incident as a “reprehensible act that violates the fundamental rights of children to safety and education.” He said such actions undermine national efforts to promote access to education, particularly for the girl-child, and stressed that schools must remain safe spaces.
Issa-Onilu also called the attack on Christian worshippers in Kwara State “senseless and unacceptable,” warning that it threatens the peace, unity, and religious harmony Nigerians have worked to build. “Freedom of worship is a fundamental right enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, and any act that seeks to intimidate or harm citizens based on their faith is not only unlawful but deeply unpatriotic,” he said.
The NOA DG assured the public that, under the directive of President Bola Tinubu, security agencies are coordinating operations to ensure the safe return of the abducted schoolgirls and affected worshippers. He noted that the agency’s monthly national security briefing is designed to keep Nigerians informed about progress made by security and regulatory agencies across the country.
Issa-Onilu further urged Nigerians to actively support security agencies by providing timely and useful information that could help protect lives and prevent further attacks.
