Amnesty International Nigeria has criticised the Federal Government over the continued abduction of schoolchildren across the country, saying authorities have failed to effectively address the growing insecurity affecting schools.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the human rights organisation said the latest mass abductions of schoolchildren in Borno and Oyo states demonstrate what it described as the government’s inability to halt attacks by armed groups and gunmen operating across various parts of Nigeria.
According to Amnesty International, the Safe Schools Initiative, which was launched following the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction to enhance security around educational institutions, has been undermined by bureaucratic challenges and allegations of corruption.
The organisation noted that the poor implementation of the initiative has contributed to the indefinite closure of hundreds of schools in several northern states, disrupting the education of thousands of children.
“The Nigerian authorities must end the menace of school abductions,” Amnesty International stated.
The group further argued that existing security measures introduced by the administration of President Bola Tinubu have failed to stem the wave of attacks on schools and communities.
“The latest mass abductions of schoolchildren in Borno and Oyo states clearly show that President Bola Tinubu and his government have no effective plan for ending years of atrocities by armed groups and gunmen that are increasingly having a free rein across many parts of Nigeria,” the statement said.
Amnesty International urged the government to take urgent and effective steps to protect schools, ensure the safety of students and teachers, and guarantee uninterrupted access to education for children across the country. #Securitynewsalert.com
