Human Lives Human Rights: The abduction of over 60 individuals by armed gunmen in Buda, located within Kaduna state, serves as a distressing indication of the prevailing atmosphere of impunity within Nigeria. This recent incident underscores the urgent need for decisive action from President Bola Tinubu and his administration to address the escalating trend of abductions, particularly targeting children in schools and internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps across the northern regions of the country. In the past ten days alone, nearly 700 people have fallen victim to abduction incidents in Borno, Kaduna, and Sokoto. These relentless abductions and assaults are instilling widespread fear, compelling parents to withdraw their children from schools for safety concerns.
The consistent failure of Nigerian authorities to curb these abductions, specifically those targeting children and educational institutions, poses a grave threat to the education and future prospects of an entire generation. With numerous schools being forced to close and teachers deserting their posts in rural areas due to fear, the educational landscape of the nation hangs in jeopardy. It is imperative that the Tinubu government swiftly prioritizes the security and well-being of all citizens as a fundamental public policy objective.
The clock is ticking for the authorities to fulfill their legal obligation of safeguarding the lives and security of the populace, as well as ensuring the safe release of hundreds of individuals held captive by armed groups. The failure to bring perpetrators of these abductions to justice only serves to embolden impunity, exacerbating the risk to innocent lives.
Background:
On March 3, 2024, suspected Boko Haram insurgents abducted over 400 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), predominantly women and children, from Babban Sansani, Zulum, and Arabic IDP camps in Gamboru Ngala, Borno state. Subsequently, on March 7, at least 287 students and educators were abducted by gunmen in Kuriga, Kaduna state. The assailants, numbering in the hundreds and armed with motorcycles, descended upon the school, seizing students and teachers before disappearing into the wilderness. Additionally, on March 9, 15 students were abducted from an Islamic school by gunmen who have since issued ransom demands.
