Focus on Africa Search continues for schoolgirls abducted in Nigeria's Kebbi State
Nov 18, 2025
Buki Shonibare, co-founder of Bring Back Our Girls, discusses the urgent need for stronger protections against mass school abductions in Nigeria, highlighting security gaps and the importance of safe school measures. Yitna Tekaling, National Director of Habitat for Humanity Ethiopia, shares insights into the country's housing crisis driven by rapid urbanization and details on ongoing projects aimed at tackling slum conditions. Tembisa Fakude, a Mail & Guardian columnist, provides a critical analysis of the arrival of Palestinians from Gaza in South Africa, discussing its political implications.
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School Abductions Are Now A Systemic Crisis
- Mass school abductions in north-west Nigeria have grown from rare to frequent events over recent years.
- These attacks now form a persistent security crisis that pressures state and federal authorities.
Patterns From Chibok To Kebbi
- Buki Shonibare compared the Kebbi abduction to Chibok and other past mass kidnappings to show a pattern.
- She noted dormitory attacks, porous border towns and shifting victim counts as recurring features.
Border Schools Are Soft, High-Value Targets
- Schools in border towns are high-value, soft targets due to weak security and concentrated populations.
- Porous borders and nearby bush allow attackers to infiltrate and escape easily.
