Amnesty International has sounded the alarm about a new surge in school kidnappings throughout Nigeria, cautioning that ongoing assaults on students are worsening instability and endangering educational opportunities.
The group stated on its X account on Saturday that armed factions conducted synchronized attacks in close succession in both the northern and southern regions of the country, kidnapping dozens of students.
“The Nigerian government needs to promptly and firmly address these events, ensure the safe recovery of the victims, and implement more effective preventive actions to halt the ongoing attacks on schools and children,” Amnesty International stated.
As per the statement, on May 13 and 14, 2026, 42 students were taken by armed groups following assaults on schools in Askira Uba and Chibok Local Government Areas within Borno State in the northeastern region.
It stated that on May 15, 2026, at least 40 students were taken hostage after an assault by armed individuals in the Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Amnesty cautioned that numerous victims of comparable situations often remain unliberated, noting that the ongoing risk of abduction is prompting families to keep their children out of school for security purposes.
“The risk of being kidnapped is causing millions of children to leave school, while young girls are having their education cut short and being married off to prevent them from being taken at school,” the organization stated.
The advocacy organization also condemned what it referred to as ongoing failures by officials to guarantee responsibility and stop additional assaults on schools and local areas.
“Following every school kidnapping, officials fail to keep their commitments to look into the cases and hold those responsible accountable. Victims and their families remain without access to justice and proper solutions,” it stated.
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