Gender Educator Initiative Condemns Zamfara Attacks, Demands Urgent Protection For Women And Children

The Gender Educator Initiative (GEI), a nonprofit organisation championing the rights of women and children, has condemned the recent wave of violent attacks in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where gunmen killed at least five people and abducted dozens, mostly women.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Shafa’atu Suleiman, GEI’s Founder and Executive Lead, described the assaults as “coordinated attacks by armed bandits on multiple villages,” resulting in deaths, mass abductions, and psychological trauma within vulnerable communities.

“We are deeply saddened and outraged,” Suleiman said. “Every woman abducted is not just a statistic; she is a mother, a sister, a caregiver, and a voice that deserves to be heard  not silenced by violence.”

GEI raised alarms over the long-term repercussions of the attacks, warning that beyond the immediate threat to lives, the crisis is devastating women’s psychological well-being, reproductive health, and economic security.

The organisation issued a series of urgent demands, including:

Immediate deployment of additional security forces to at-risk villages.

Safe rescue and comprehensive rehabilitation of abducted women.

Establishment of trauma support services, encompassing counseling, shelter, and legal aid.

Investment in long-term solutions, including education and economic empowerment programs for women and girls in conflict zones.

“The safety and freedom of women and children should never be negotiable,” GEI asserted, urging the federal and state governments to act decisively to stem the tide of violence. The organisation also called on civil society groups and media to maintain focused attention on the humanitarian crisis, warning that silence enables further atrocities.

GEI reaffirmed its solidarity with the affected families, emphasizing the need to “break the cycle of violence and build systems that protect and uplift.”

Known for its grassroots advocacy, the Gender Educator Initiative continues to lead initiatives across underserved Nigerian communities, promoting peacebuilding, gender equality, and dismantling harmful stereotypes affecting women and girls.