Oby Ezekwesili Says 35 Niger State School Kidnapping Victims Still Missing Former Minister of Education and #BringBackOurGirls co-founder Oby Ezekwesili has challenged official claims that all abductees from St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, Niger State, have been rescued. While 130 pupils, students, and staff have reportedly regained freedom, Ezekwesili noted that the original abduction involved 315 individuals, leaving at least 35 still unaccounted for. Ezekwesili criticized government authorities for failing to provide precise data on victims, describing it as a recurring pattern of dehumanizing and disrespectful reporting. She urged the government to account for the missing individuals, properly identify all victims, and called on Nigerians to demand transparency and better governance. The incident underscores ongoing security challenges in northern Nigeria despite repeated assurances from authorities. #ObyEzekwesili #SchoolAbduction #NigerState

Male Presidents Have Failed Us!” – Aisha Yesufu Declares It’s Time for a Woman to Lead Nigeria. Human rights activist and Co-founder of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, Aisha Yesufu, has said that men have failed in leading Nigeria and that it is time for a woman to take charge. Speaking boldly at the Girls Summit held in Umuahia, Abia State, Yesufu declared, “Male Presidents have failed us!” and insisted that women must no longer be sidelined from positions of power, especially the presidency. She challenged the stereotypes and cultural barriers that continue to hold women back, saying it was unfair that female aspirants are often ridiculed while men, no matter how incompetent, are accepted as leaders. “No matter how bad a man is, nobody says he can’t be President but the moment a woman is running, she will be told a woman can’t be President,” she said. The outspoken activist urged the government and society to dismantle all forms of discrimination that stop women from realizing their potential. She also called for stronger protection of widows and for harmful cultural practices against them to be abolished. Her speech received loud applause from participants who agreed with her call for equality and inclusion. Yesufu also praised the Founder of Protect the Precious Foundation, Norah Okafor, for creating platforms that empower young girls and give them a voice.

Abduction of 276 Chibok Girls Remain Indelible Scar on My Presidency — Jonathan. Former President Goodluck Jonathan has admitted that the 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls will forever remain a scar on his presidency. He made the remark on Friday at the presentation of SCARS: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a memoir by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor. Commending Irabor, Jonathan described him as “a soldier who stood for truth and never played politics with security.” Reflecting on his tenure, Jonathan said, “One of the major scars on my government is the Chibok Girls. As Bishop Kukah said, no plastic or cosmetic surgeon can remove it. It is a scar I will die with.” The kidnapping of 276 girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, triggered global outrage and birthed the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Although some of the girls escaped or were freed, more than 80 remain unaccounted for. Survivors still struggle with stigma, trauma, and interrupted education, with some returning home with children born in captivity. Jonathan noted that Boko Haram’s activities, which began in 2009, worsened during his presidency. “I battled Boko Haram for five years as President. I thought Buhari would wipe them out quickly, but they remain. Sometimes they even had more munitions than our soldiers — that does not reflect the actions of hungry villagers,” he said. While his administration was heavily criticised for its response to the tragedy, Jonathan defended his silence at the time, saying it was aimed at protecting sensitive intelligence. He insisted that the insurgency was more complex than many assumed and called for a renewed approach, stressing that the “carrot and stick” method might be necessary. Over a decade later, successive governments have rescued or negotiated the release of about 189 girls, but dozens are still in captivity. The Federal Government maintains that freeing the remaining Chibok girls and Leah Sharibu remains a national priority.