Kidnapping Crisis: Governors Hold Emergency Meeting as School Lockdowns Surge

Emergency Meetings and Security Measures in Response to Escalating Threats

In response to the escalating security crisis in the region, 19 Northern governors have scheduled an emergency meeting for November 29, 2025, to be held in Kaduna State. This planned meeting comes on the heels of a parley by the South-West governors, which took place at the Oyo State Governor’s Office in Ibadan, on Monday. The South-West governors resolved that it was time for the creation of state police to address the growing incidents of bandit attacks.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, Peter Ahemba, confirmed Saturday’s meeting by the Northern governors to our correspondent in Lafia, the state capital, on Monday, as concerns spiked over the closure of schools by the authorities. Ahemba explained that the northern governors’ meeting would deliberate on concrete steps that could be taken to address the rising wave of kidnapping, banditry, and other forms of security threats in the zone.

Rising Wave of Attacks on Educational Institutions

In recent times, the Northern region has witnessed an increase in attacks on educational institutions, prompting several state governments to temporarily close schools. Last week, armed attackers raided the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, abducting at least 24 schoolgirls and killing the vice principal. A few days later, gunmen attacked St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State, where they seized over 300 students and staff, though 50 students later escaped.

Speaking with The PUNCH, the governor’s aide stated, “The Northern Governors have fixed a meeting for Kaduna on November 29 to discuss the rising wave of insecurity in some parts of the country, especially within the northern part of the country. So, the meeting is expected to deliberate on concrete steps that could be taken to address the rising wave of kidnapping, banditry, and other forms of security threats in some parts of the country.”

For Nasarawa State, His Excellency, the Governor, who happens to be the Chairman of the North Central Governors Forum, had to cut short his trip from the G20 Summit that is going on in South Africa, to come back immediately and attend to the security challenges in some states of the northern part of the country. “In line with that, His Excellency had to convene yet another emergency security meeting this afternoon, being Monday, the 24th of November 2025. So, the meeting deliberated on how to prevent the escalation of insecurity, the banditry activities that are being witnessed in some parts of the country, to strengthen surveillance measures and also enhance the support to security agencies to effectively tackle any eventual situation that may occur.”

South-West Governors Call for Action

Rising from their meeting convened to bolster security in their region, the South-West governors called on the Federal Government to urgently secure the forest across the region and vast forest belts that have become hideouts for the criminal elements. Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo) and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) were personally in attendance, except Ademola Adeleke of Osun state, who was represented by his deputy.

Reading the communique after the meeting, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the forum reviewed the current state of security in the region and reaffirmed its support for the establishment of state police, emphasizing that “The time is now and it can no longer be delayed.” The governors also called on all the South-West people to remain united and committed to the peace that exists in the region, adding that “We remain one, indivisible entity that will continue to enjoy and guard the religious tolerance that we have always been known.”

Addressing Security Challenges Across States

The governors reiterated their commitment to addressing various security challenges, including forest surveillance, interstate migration, and illegal mining activities. They called for enhanced forest surveillance across the South West States and urged the Federal Government to secure the vast forest belts that have become hideouts for criminal elements. They also expressed concern about unregulated interstate migration and illegal mining activities, calling for stricter border monitoring, data collection, and self-identification.

On agriculture, food security, and climate resilience, the forum acknowledged and appreciated the efforts of the Federal Government in providing food sufficiency and commended the various farmers in the region for the increase in agricultural output and subsequent stability and reduction in food prices.

State-Level Responses to Insecurity

Meanwhile, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang is set to unveil a comprehensive plan to tackle insecurity in the state, according to his Special Adviser on Policy and Governance, Yiljap Abraham. The development comes amid escalating security challenges in the state, which had compelled the government to shut down basic schools to prevent attacks by terrorist elements.

In a bid to address the security situation in the state, the Kebbi State Government said it has held a series of security summits to strengthen security. The Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Ahmed Idris, noted, “We held a security summit where all the traditional rulers from the Northern region converged here for about three days. We also hosted one a few weeks ago when Northern broadcasters spent about three days here discussing security issues.”

School Closures and Community Vigilance

In response to heightened security concerns, the Bauchi State Government has announced the immediate closure of all schools across the state. The directive affects all primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions, including Federal Government-owned and private schools operating within the state. This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Information and Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi State Ministry of Education, Jalaludeen Usman.

The ministry also called on residents to be vigilant and report suspicious activities. “If you see something, say something. Timely information from the public is crucial in safeguarding our communities,” he added.

Amid growing concerns over reports of school abductions, the Gombe State Police Command said it has intensified security measures around schools across the state. The renewed vigilance follows a strategic meeting held on Monday between the Commissioner of Police, Bello Yahaya, and the executive members of the All Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, Gombe State chapter.

Warnings from International Organizations

Worried by the unfolding security situation, Amnesty International Nigeria warned that the wave of mass kidnappings targeting schools could severely derail educational progress across Northern Nigeria. Country Director Isa Sanusi said the psychological impact of abductions—and even the fear of such attacks—will discourage countless children from attending school.

National Identity and Unity

Weighing in on the worrying security situation, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, says Nigeria’s lingering crises are rooted in a long-standing absence of a shared national identity, warning that the country continues to function as a collection of competing groups rather than a unified nation.

Calls for Government Action

Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently review Nigeria’s security architecture following last week’s abduction of schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School. Idris made the appeal on Monday while receiving the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who led a federal delegation to Birnin Kebbi to commiserate with the government and people of the state.