Human Rights Body Alleges Coordinated Plot in School Abductions

The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC RFT), Nigeria Chapter, has issued a profound alarm over the relentless wave of student abductions sweeping the country, asserting that the recent, clustered attacks on schools bear strong indications of planning and coordinated execution, suggesting they are far from random acts of opportunistic criminality.

In a powerful statement signed by its Country Director and Human Rights Advocate, Amb. Abdullahi Bakoji Adamu, the commission highlighted the alarming consistency of the violence. The abduction of students from three different schools within a single week, according to the IHRC-RFT, clearly points to a discernible “pattern, a strategy,” and the distinct possibility that organized forces or specific individuals may be involved “behind the scenes” in orchestrating the crises.

The commission zeroed in on a particularly sensitive security matter, noting reports that security personnel were allegedly withdrawn from some of the affected schools shortly before the attacks. This critical issue, which was also publicly flagged by the Governor of Kebbi State, suggests a major, perhaps systemic, security gap that the human rights body insists demands an immediate and comprehensive investigation.

“This cannot be dismissed as mere coincidence. There are signs of planning, intentional execution, and a hidden agenda that must be uncovered,” the statement warned, underlining the grave necessity of understanding the source of the security failures plaguing the nation’s educational sector.

The IHRC-RFT stressed that the calculated targeting of educational institutions constitutes a severe violation of fundamental global and national laws, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution. The commission emphasized that the basic rights to life, human dignity, and access to education are being systematically infringed upon when schools are actively turned into targets of organized violence. “No political, religious, or personal interest can justify harming a child. Nigerians have the right to know the truth about these attacks,” the organization maintained.

The commission issued a direct and urgent call for action from the Federal Government, prioritizing the swift and successful 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,” the statement read, conveying the urgency of the situation.

Beyond the immediate rescue effort, the IHRC-RFT demanded an independent investigation into the alleged withdrawal of security officers from the affected schools, specifically requesting that the inquiry determine who approved the decision and the full justification behind it. Furthermore, the commission called on the government to ensure the rigorous prosecution of anyone found to have aided or benefited from the attacks, irrespective of their status as security personnel, politicians, or civilians.

To prevent future tragedies, the organization advocated for the implementation of stronger, more focused protective measures for schools. These proposals include the creation of a specialized School Protection Unit, the installation of essential security devices such as CCTV and alarms, and fostering deeper community involvement in reporting suspicious activities.

In a final, chilling assessment, the commission warned that Nigeria has reached a perilous juncture, emphasizing that the safety of children must be treated as the foremost 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 asserted, concluding with a plea for governmental competence and resolve: “We are tired of explanations, we need action. We are tired of repeated security lapses we need protection. We need our children returned safely, today, not tomorrow.”