The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC RFT), Nigeria Chapter, has raised serious concerns over the rising wave of student abductions in the country.
According to the commission, the recent attacks on schools show signs of planning and coordination rather than random incidents.
In a statement signed by its Country Director and Human Rights Advocate, Amb. Abdullahi Bakoji Adamu, the commission highlighted that the abductions from three different schools within one week suggest a pattern, a strategy, and the possibility of involvement by unseen parties.
Reports indicate security personnel were withdrawn from some schools shortly before the attacks, an issue publicly raised by the Governor of Kebbi State, suggesting a significant security gap that requires investigation.
“This cannot be dismissed as mere coincidence. There are signs of planning, intentional execution, and a hidden agenda that must be uncovered,” the commission stated.
The attacks violate several global and national laws, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, the commission warned.
The right to life, dignity, and access to education are being infringed upon when schools become targets of organized violence, it stressed.
The IHRC stated, “No political, religious, or personal interest can justify harming a child. Nigerians have the right to know the truth about these attacks.”
The commission called on the Federal Government to take immediate action, starting with the urgent rescue of all abducted students.
“We are calling on the President, the National Security Adviser, service chiefs, and intelligence agencies to launch a rescue mission without delay. Time is running out,” read the statement.
IHRC-RFT also demanded an independent investigation into the withdrawal of security officers from affected schools, including who approved it and why.
The commission urged the government to prosecute anyone found to have aided or benefited from the attacks, whether security personnel, politicians, or civilians.
It further called for stronger protection for schools, including the creation of a specialized School Protection Unit, installation of security devices such as CCTV and alarms, and deeper community involvement in reporting suspicious activities.
The commission warned that Nigeria has reached a dangerous point, emphasizing that the safety of children must become a national priority.
“We cannot continue to watch while our children are turned into bargaining chips. Nigeria is at risk. Our children are not political tools,” the statement said.
It added: “We are tired of explanations, we need action. We are tired of repeated security lapses and need protection. We need our children returned safely, today, not tomorrow.”
