Amnesty International condemns abduction of female varsity students in Benue

Amnesty International has strongly condemned the recent abduction of four female students from their hostel at J.S. Tarka University, Makurdi, Benue State.

The human rights organization has urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to take immediate and decisive action to address the escalating crisis of kidnappings targeting educational institutions in Nigeria.

In a statement, Amnesty International expressed deep concerns over the Nigerian government’s repeated failure to curb the growing wave of abductions, which had forced the closure of hundreds of rural schools.

“This disruption to education not only jeopardizes the future of students but also erodes public confidence in the country’s security framework.

“The latest abduction adds to a worrying trend of attacks on schools and universities.

“In the past ten days alone, nearly 700 individuals have been kidnapped in Borno, Kaduna, and Sokoto states.

“Reports indicate that similar incidents are occurring frequently in Zamfara, Katsina, and Niger states, raising the alarms about the safety of students and staff members in academic institutions,” it said.

Amnesty International warned that attacks on educational facilities had severe and long-term consequences, including psychological trauma, disruption of learning, and heightened insecurity in affected communities.

The organization emphasized that the Nigerian government had a fundamental duty to protect students and ensure that educational institutions remained safe spaces for learning.

“The continued targeting of schools and students by armed groups is a direct violation of human rights and international laws protecting education,” Amnesty International stated.

According to Amnesty International, “Authorities must take immediate and effective steps to prevent further abductions and hold perpetrators accountable.”

The group called on the government to strengthen security measures around schools, enhance intelligence gathering, and improve coordination among security agencies to prevent further incidents.

It also urged authorities to expedite the rescue of kidnapped victims and provide necessary support to affected families.

As the crisis escalates, pressure is mounting on the Tinubu administration to demonstrate stronger political will in tackling insecurity.

With education being a fundamental pillar of national development, stakeholders have warned that continued inaction could have devastating implications for the country’s future.