Amnesty International (AI) has issued a pressing call to the Federal Government of Nigeria, urging immediate action to secure the safe release of over 687 individuals abducted by gunmen in Borno and Kaduna states.
The human rights organization expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation, citing shocking mass abductions in Borno that included over 400 people, including women and children, kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram terrorists from Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Gamboru Ngala, Babban Sansani, Zulum, and Arabic settlements.
In addition to the Borno abductions, AI highlighted the alarming incident in Kaduna, where at least 287 schoolchildren were abducted from the LEA Primary and Secondary School in Kuriga village.
While reacting to the incidents in a statement on Friday, the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, said the kidnappings are a “shocking indictment of the authorities’ persistent failure to protect people from attacks by armed groups that have killed thousands of Nigerians in the last five years”.
Amnesty wants the “Nigerian government to take all necessary measures to ensure the safe release and return of those abducted to their families.
“Authorities must also promptly, thoroughly, impartially, independently, effectively, and transparently investigate the recurring cases of abductions in many parts of the country, make public the findings of any investigation, and ensure that the suspected perpetrators are brought to justice in fair trials.”
Amnesty International criticized the perceived inadequacy of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s approach to addressing armed group atrocities, stating that the latest incidents expose a lack of an effective plan to end years of violence and attacks.
“The latest mass abductions clearly show President Bola Tinubu and his government have no effective plan for ending years of atrocities by armed groups and gunmen that are increasingly having a free reign across many parts of Nigeria.
“Whatever security measures are being implemented by President Tinubu and his government are clearly not working.
“Given the rising level of insecurity in Nigeria today, it is obvious that protecting lives and property is low on the list of government priorities. People should not be left to live in fear of the next attack or abduction. The Nigerian authorities’ consistent failure to protect people is completely unacceptable and must end,” the rights group said.
It further urged accountability for those with command responsibilities in areas affected by abductions, holding them responsible for the glaring failures that have endangered hundreds of lives.
