Amnesty International has warned that the indefinite closure of 20,468 schools across seven northern states is putting a generation of children at risk of missing out on education.
The closures followed the mass abduction of over 300 children and teachers from St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State, last week.
Isa Sanusi, director of Amnesty International Nigeria, said the persistent failure of authorities to protect schoolchildren and teachers constitutes “an assault on childhood and an utter failure to guarantee the safety and security of school children and teachers.”
Sanusi added, “The Nigerian authorities are grossly failing in their constitutional and international human rights obligations to protect lives.”
Amnesty International noted that since the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction in April 2014, at least 15 mass school abductions have been recorded, highlighting the repeated inability of authorities to prevent attacks or ensure accountability.
“Many abducted children and teachers are never released by their abductors. The possibility of abduction is forcing millions of children to abandon education, while underaged girls are having their education terminated and forced into marriage as a means of avoiding abduction at school,” Sanusi said.
The organisation criticised authorities for failing to investigate past abductions, calling out allegations that ransom payments may have been made to secure victims’ release.
After the Papiri abduction on 21 November, the Niger State government claimed that school authorities ignored a security alert. The Catholic Archdiocese of Kontagora, which runs the school, rejected the claim and challenged the government to provide evidence.
Sanusi said similar lapses contributed to the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Maga, Kebbi State, on 17 November, despite prior intelligence that the school could be targeted.
Authorities in Bauchi, Benue, Kwara, Plateau, Niger, Yobe and Katsina states have closed schools to prevent abductions, but Amnesty International said prolonged closures “have a long-term negative impact on children’s education.”
“Many schools that are closed to prevent abductions remain closed indefinitely because security is not improving in affected areas. As a result, thousands of children are forced into working to support their families,” Sanusi said.
Amnesty International called on Nigerian authorities to invest in education, strengthen security in rural communities, and fulfil legal obligations under the Nigerian Constitution, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
Authorities must “promptly, thoroughly, independently, impartially, transparently and effectively investigate all incidents of mass school abductions since April 2014 and bring to justice suspected perpetrators,” Sanusi said.
