Amnesty International Nigeria has issued a stark warning that the recent surge in mass abductions of pupils and students from schools will cause a significant setback to education across Northern Nigeria.
Country Director, Isa Sanusi explained that the profound trauma associated with abduction, coupled with the pervasive fear of being targeted, will ultimately prevent thousands of children from attending school and accessing their education.
Speaking, Sanusi expressed serious concern that parents will now become increasingly hesitant to send their children to school due to this growing wave of kidnappings.
Sanusi emphasized the dual challenges facing rural families. He noted that in many rural areas, children play essential roles in the household, meaning parents already make considerable sacrifices to allow their children to attend school.
“The trauma that comes with being abducted, or with the fear of being abducted, is going to prevent thousands of children from getting education completely,” Sanusi said.
He warned that these recurring security failures will lead to a situation where education suffers even more severe setbacks, particularly in Northern Nigeria. People will be scared of attending, and parents will be more skeptical about giving permission for their children to go.
The Amnesty International Country Director cautioned that this trend risks creating an entire generation of children being denied access to education. He added, “When added to the more than 12 million children already out of school, the future looks grim and dangerous.”
The recent spike in insecurity has led to multiple mass abductions, sparking widespread fear and prompting some states, such as Bauchi, to proactively shut down schools.
In one recent incident, armed men invaded the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, abducting at least 24 schoolgirls and killing the school’s vice principal.
This was closely followed by another attack when gunmen stormed St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Niger State, where hundreds of students and staff were initially kidnapped. Reports confirmed that 50 students have since managed to escape..
