The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) has called for urgent action following the abduction of 315 schoolgirls and female teachers from St Mary’s Catholic School in north-central Nigeria.
Gunmen reportedly stormed the school, taking both students and staff, and no group has yet claimed responsibility.
The CSVR described the attack as a severe violation of the safety and dignity of women and girls, underscoring the need for immediate regional coordination to prevent further violence.
Speaking on the incident, Annah Moyo, Executive Director of CSVR Advocacy, said:
“This is not just a national crisis; it is a regional one. It calls for coordinated action. We are urging stronger cross-border intelligence sharing and co-operation across the Economic Community of West African States region and the Lake Chad Basin. Armed groups are regularly moving people, weapons, and ransom networks across these borders.”
Moyo further called for the creation of a regional rapid-response system for mass abductions, which would allow specialised investigative and rescue teams to be deployed immediately.
She warned that without swift, co-ordinated measures, women and children in Nigeria and neighbouring countries will continue to face grave risks from armed groups operating across borders.
–ChannelAfrica–
