More than 250 women's rights and civil society organisations under the coalition Womanifesto Nigeria have strongly condemned the rising cases of kidnappings and violent attacks targeting women, girls, and children across the country. The coalition warned that the worsening security situation is leaving families traumatised and communities vulnerable.
Statement Highlights Growing Security Crisis
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the coalition said the increasing number of abductions in various parts of Nigeria reflects a deepening security crisis, with women and children bearing the heaviest burden of the violence. The statement, signed by the coalition's Convener, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, lamented that many victims remain in captivity without rescue or justice despite repeated reports of attacks on schools, communities, and travellers.
According to the coalition, insecurity has continued to spread across both northern and southern regions, exposing women and children to heightened danger. “Across the country, families continue to live in fear and uncertainty while countless women and girls remain missing, kidnapped, or trapped in the hands of armed groups, bandits, and criminal networks,” the statement noted.
Recent Attacks in Borno and Oyo States
The group referenced recent attacks in Borno State and Oyo State where children were reportedly abducted during assaults on schools and communities. It also expressed concern over incidents in parts of South-West Nigeria where women travelling on highways, working on farms, or residing in rural communities were allegedly kidnapped for ransom. Womanifesto specifically cited reports from Ekiti State indicating that several women, including a pregnant woman and a nursing mother, were abducted by gunmen earlier this year.
Systemic Failures and Delayed Rescue Operations
The coalition argued that the recurring incidents point to systemic failures in the country's security and protection mechanisms. “These incidents are not isolated. They reflect a dangerous national crisis where women and girls increasingly bear the devastating consequences of insecurity, weak law enforcement, and institutional failure,” the statement added. The organisations further expressed worry over delayed rescue operations for victims still in captivity, warning that prolonged detention exposes women and girls to sexual violence, physical abuse, exploitation, and long-term trauma.
“It is unacceptable that families are repeatedly left to negotiate ransoms, search forests, and plead publicly for help while the state fails to guarantee their safety and freedom,” the coalition stated.
Normalisation of Abductions and Fear in Daily Life
The coalition also warned against what it described as the normalisation of abductions in many communities, noting that fear has become a part of daily life for many Nigerians. According to the statement, some parents have begun withdrawing children from schools due to safety concerns, while women increasingly face threats in public spaces, on highways, and within their communities.
Call for Government Action
The coalition called on the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue kidnapped women, girls, and children still being held captive, while demanding transparent investigations into recent abductions and prosecution of those responsible. It also urged authorities to strengthen security around schools, highways, and rural communities, and demanded accountability for lapses in security operations.
In addition, the organisations called for psychosocial support, medical assistance, and reintegration programmes for survivors of abduction and violence, while advocating gender-responsive security policies that address the specific vulnerabilities faced by women and girls during conflicts and insecurity.
Endorsing Organisations
Among the groups that endorsed the statement were ActionAid Nigeria, Amnesty International Nigeria, Bring Back Our Girls, FIDA Nigeria, National Council of Women Societies, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Yiaga Africa, and several other women-led and civil society organisations across the country.
