NOA Condemns Kebbi Abduction, Kwara Attack, Urges Citizen Intelligence

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has issued a forceful condemnation of the recent twin security crises plaguing the nation: the abduction of 25 students from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi State and the violent attack on Christian worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State. The agency simultaneously made a crucial plea for increased public support and cooperation with security forces.

In a statement released on Thursday, Lanre Issa-Onilu, the Director-General of NOA, described the Kebbi school incident as a “reprehensible act that violates the fundamental rights of children to safety and education.” He emphasized that such criminal actions pose a direct threat to the national drive to promote access to education, particularly for the girl-child, stressing that school environments must be maintained as sacrosanct safe spaces.

Issa-Onilu was equally unequivocal in his condemnation of the Kwara State attack, labeling the assault on Christian worshippers as “senseless and unacceptable.” He warned that such acts constitute a severe threat to the peace, unity, and delicate religious harmony that Nigerians have painstakingly worked to build. The DG underscored the fundamental nature of religious freedom, stating, “Freedom of worship is a fundamental right enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, and any act that seeks to intimidate or harm citizens based on their faith is not only unlawful but deeply unpatriotic.”

The NOA Director-General assured the public that the Federal Government is taking decisive action. He confirmed that, acting under the direct instruction of President Bola Tinubu, security agencies are actively coordinating intensified operations aimed at ensuring the safe return of the abducted schoolgirls and bringing those responsible for the attack on worshippers to justice. Issa-Onilu noted that the NOA’s monthly national security briefing serves as a mechanism to keep Nigerians fully informed about the progress being made by security and regulatory agencies nationwide.

Concluding his address, the NOA DG made a direct appeal to the citizenry. He strongly urged Nigerians to move beyond mere observation and to actively support security agencies by providing timely and useful information that could prove instrumental in protecting lives and preventing further attacks. The agency stressed that intelligence gathering and community vigilance are indispensable components in the fight against insecurity.