Nigeria’s struggle to contain the rising threat of mass abductions resurfaced sharply at the weekend after Amnesty International issued a stern warning over what it described as a worsening pattern of violence against schoolchildren across the northern region.
The alarm followed confirmation by the Christian Association of Nigeria that 315 students and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Agwarra Local Government Area of Niger State, were taken by armed groups during a coordinated raid. The incident adds to a troubling sequence of school invasions stretching from Niger to Kebbi and other northern states.
Amnesty International, in a strongly worded statement, faulted the Nigerian government for failing to guarantee the safety of pupils, especially in communities repeatedly targeted by armed groups. The organisation’s Nigeria Director, Isa Sanusi, condemned the renewed attacks, saying “The Nigerian authorities are failing children, as over 230 children in the north are in captivity of gunmen this week.”
He noted that disruptions to education have intensified, with hundreds of schools in Katsina, Plateau, Kebbi, Niger and other states shutting down out of fear of further raids. According to him, “The latest wave of horrific attacks on schools in Kebbi and Niger state clearly shows Nigerian authorities never cared to learn any lessons from previous incidents.”
Mass kidnappings from schools, which peaked in 2021, continue to leave a deep scar on northern communities. Amnesty recalled that more than 780 children were abducted for ransom in 2021, with some losing their lives during the attacks. Many of the survivors are still battling trauma.
Sanusi warned that the impact goes beyond the immediate victims. He stressed that “The future of thousands of school children in Northern Nigeria remains bleak, as hundreds of schools in some states have been closed indefinitely due to rising insecurity.” The organisation said teachers across Zamfara, Katsina and Niger have reported a steady decline in school attendance since 2021, as many children stay home out of fear.
The statement also highlighted a disturbing trend involving underaged girls who are being withdrawn from school and forced into early marriages as a supposed safety measure. Amnesty described this as a direct assault on their rights and a violation of international standards on child protection.
Calling for accountability, the organisation insisted that recent attacks must be treated with utmost seriousness. “There is a deliberate attack on children by armed groups. Using children as shields or bargaining chips is unacceptable and must stop. The Nigerian government must investigate these attacks as war crimes and crimes against humanity,” Sanusi said.
Amnesty further emphasised that children should never be placed in situations where education becomes a matter of life and death. “No child should go through what children are going through now in northern Nigeria. Nigeria is failing children once again in a horrifying manner,” he added.
The group urged authorities to adopt stronger protective measures around schools, hold perpetrators accountable, and ensure that education remains accessible and safe. “Attacks on schools are a violation of international law and the authorities must ensure these attacks are properly investigated, and alleged perpetrators brought to justice in fair trials,” the organisation warned.
The abductions in Niger State have renewed pressure on security agencies and state authorities, raising questions about preparedness and the implementation of earlier commitments, including the Safe Schools Initiative launched to protect learning environments.
