Northern Nigerian women under the banner of Voices for Inclusion and Equity for Women (VIEW) have expressed outrage over the latest mass abduction of schoolgirls, raising urgent questions about the silence of Nigeria's National Assembly during escalating security crises.
Maga School Attack Details
Armed attackers stormed Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State in the early hours of Monday, November 17, 2025. The assailants killed Vice Principal Hassan Yakubu Makuku, wounded a school guard, and abducted 25 students in the dawn raid that has shocked the nation.
Prominent women activists including Asmau Joda, Maryam Uwais, Mairo Mandara, Aisha Oyebode, Fatima Akilu, Kadaria Ahmed, Larai Ocheja Amusan, and Ier Jonathan-Ichaver signed the VIEW statement condemning the attack. Many of these women were previously active in the #BringBackOurGirls movement and have extensive experience working with communities affected by insecurity.
Systemic Failure in Protecting Students
The coalition described the Maga abduction as not simply another security incident but a brutal indictment of years of unfulfilled promises and weak implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative. Despite national grief and global attention following previous mass abductions in Chibok, Dapchi, and Jangebe, schools across Northern Nigeria remain dangerously exposed to attacks.
VIEW's statement highlighted the disturbing reality that more than a decade after repeated tragedies, Northern Nigeria is still one of the most dangerous places in the world for a girl to pursue an education. The group accused political leaders, security agencies, and northern representatives of failing to defend girls who already face significant cultural and economic barriers.
Parliamentary Silence in Crisis
The absence of Nigeria's National Assembly during this national emergency raises serious concerns about the state of the country's representative democracy. As the most important arm of government in a democracy, the legislature's primary role is to represent the people's interests and ensure their voices are heard, especially during crises.
Parliamentary oversight is crucial in times of crisis to prevent executive branch overreach and protect citizens' rights. However, Nigeria's federal and state legislators have been notably silent while the security situation deteriorates. This legislative silence has created a power vacuum and eroded public trust in democratic institutions.
The consequences of this parliamentary absence are severe: lack of accountability for security failures, erosion of public trust in government, and potential human rights violations going unchecked. The National Assembly's failure to convene urgent sessions or conduct public hearings on the security crisis represents a gross dereliction of constitutional duty.
Historical Precedents and Current Failures
Historical examples from the U.S. Congress and British Parliament demonstrate how legislative bodies should respond during national crises. The U.S. Continental Congress unified American resistance during the Revolution, while the British Parliament addressed colonial concerns through reforms and concessions.
In contrast, Nigeria's National Assembly meets only two and a half days per week and has shown little urgency in addressing the mounting security challenges. The legislature has failed to pressure the President to nominate ambassadors for over two years since recalling previous envoys, limiting Nigeria's diplomatic capacity to engage Western allies on security cooperation.
VIEW has demanded swift, intelligence-driven rescue operations for the Maga girls and daily public updates on progress. The coalition called on the President, First Lady, Kebbi State Governor, Northern Governors' Forum, Northern Senators' Forum, Arewa House of Representatives Caucus, and all security leaders to show visible leadership.
No nation can claim to value its future while abandoning its daughters to violence, VIEW declared, emphasizing that the return of the Maga girls represents a critical test of Nigeria's leadership and humanity. With reports emerging of additional student abductions in Niger and Nasarawa states, the urgency for legislative action has never been greater.
