Amnesty International [AI] has asked the Federal Government to take all lawful measures and do more to rescue and return to safety dozens of female students from Federal University Gusau abducted by gunmen in the early hours of Friday.
Amnesty International in a post on its social media page said “schools are traditionally considered sanctuaries of learning, places of safety where young minds are nurtured for a brighter future but the brazen attack on Federal University Gusau has again shattered this notion, forcing students to grapple with an agonizing choice between their education and their lives.”
The International Human Rights group said that despite repeated assurances from the Nigerian authorities regarding their efforts to combat security challenges in Zamfara state, the ruthless activities of these gunmen paint a grim and contrasting picture.
Amnesty International said the attack on the university, coupled with the abduction of students, raised grave concerns and potentially amounts to a war crime, violating international humanitarian law and undermining the fundamental right to education.
The group said the incident underscores a troubling pattern, revealing that lessons from previous school abductions in the northern region of Nigeria have gone unheeded.
The lack of a comprehensive framework to prevent such abductions is glaring, leaving schools and their students vulnerable to the menace of armed groups.
The group said in light of this dire situation, it was imperative that the Nigerian authorities conduct a thorough investigation into the security lapses that allowed this heart-wrenching abduction to occur.
The group added that the nation and the international community demand accountability and swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Amnesty International further stated that the plight of the abducted students has ignited outrage and solidarity both within Nigeria and beyond its borders.
“It’s added that as the world rallies behind the call for their safe return, the Nigerian authorities face mounting pressure to take all lawful measures, and more, to ensure the rescue and safety of these young lives.”
The group said the incident served as a stark reminder that the pursuit of education should never come at the cost of personal safety, and “the international community stands united in condemning such acts of violence against students.”
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