TDAmnesty International Nigeria has issued a scathing statement accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of failing to address the alarming surge in abductions across the country.
According to the rights group, at least 1,100 people were abducted between January and April 2026.
School children, teachers, rural dwellers, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) were identified among the most vulnerable victims.
The organization highlighted two particularly brutal incidents that occurred last week.
In Ahoro Esinele community, Oriire district of Oyo State, gunmen stormed several schools, abducting 39 students and seven teachers.
One of the teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly beheaded during the attack, underscoring the extreme violence that has become a hallmark of these raids.
Amnesty Regrets Harrowing Ordeals
In another attack in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, suspected Boko Haram militants abducted 42 students and pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School.
Survivors of such kidnappings have described harrowing ordeals, including starvation, beatings, flogging, rape, and other forms of sexual violence.
Amnesty International criticized the Nigerian government for its lack of decisive action.
It noted that more than a decade has passed since mass abductions of school children first shocked the nation.
Despite repeated promises, the group said authorities have shown neither the will nor the commitment to end the cycle of violence.
“Over a decade is enough time for the Nigerian authorities to find a solution to this horrifying problem.
“But so far, the reality shows the government has neither the will nor the commitment to end rampant abductions and attacks on children and their schools,” the statement read.
Tinubu’s Government Held Accountable
The rights organization further reminded the government of its national and international obligations to protect children’s rights.
Such rights includes the right to education, health, and protection from torture and ill-treatment.
Amnesty International urged Tinubu’s administration to prioritize security for schools and vulnerable communities.
It stressed that failure to act would perpetuate a climate of fear and undermine Nigeria’s future.
The escalating crisis has reignited public debate about the government’s counter-insurgency strategies and its ability to safeguard citizens.
Analysts warn that unless urgent measures are taken, the abductions could further destabilize already fragile regions and erode confidence in state institutions.
This latest condemnation adds to mounting pressure on the Tinubu government to deliver concrete results in tackling insecurity.
Insecurity was described as a challenge that has plagued Nigeria for years and continues to devastate families across the nation.
