HURIWA raises alarm over 42 abducted Borno schoolchildren, seeks stronger protection for schools

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue 42 schoolchildren abducted by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists from Mussa community in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

It warned that the continued captivity of the children three weeks after the incident underscores the persistent vulnerability of schools in conflict-affected regions.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by Emmanuel Onwubiko, its National Coordinator, the civil rights group expressed concern over what it described as the lack of public information regarding the whereabouts of the children and the progress of rescue operations.

The association said the abductees, drawn from primary and junior secondary schools in the community, included toddlers between the ages of two and four, making the incident one of the most distressing attacks on children in recent years.

According to HURIWA, the Federal Government and security agencies must treat the abduction as a national emergency and deploy all available resources to secure the children’s safe return.

The group called on President Bola Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Minister of Defence, the Inspector-General of Police and other security authorities to intensify rescue operations and provide regular updates to the public and affected families.

HURIWA argued that the apparent disparity in public attention and official response between the Askira-Uba abduction and similar incidents elsewhere in the country raises concerns about equity and justice.

“The lives of all Nigerian children carry equal value regardless of where they live,” the group said, stressing that every child deserves protection and swift intervention in times of crisis.

Beyond the immediate rescue of the abducted children, HURIWA warned that schools across Nigeria, particularly in areas affected by insurgency and banditry, remain exposed to attacks due to inadequate security measures.

The rights group welcomed recent comments by Christopher Musa, Defence Minister, that education remains a powerful tool in combating terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation.

However, it maintained that access to education can only be guaranteed when schools, teachers and students are adequately protected.

The association said it was contradictory for government authorities to encourage school enrolment while educational institutions continue to face threats from terrorists, bandits and other criminal groups.

It therefore urged the government to move beyond policy pronouncements and implement practical measures to safeguard schools nationwide, especially those located in high-risk communities.

Among the measures proposed by HURIWA are the deployment of specialised security personnel to vulnerable schools, establishment of rapid-response units around educational institutions, installation of surveillance and early-warning systems, improved intelligence gathering, and enhanced coordination among the military, police, civil defence and community vigilante groups.

The organisation also called for the expansion and full implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative across the country.

The rights group further urged the Federal Government to incorporate structured home education and remote learning into Nigeria’s national education framework as a way of ensuring continued access to learning in communities affected by insecurity.

According to HURIWA, a regulated home education system supported by digital learning platforms and community-based educational centres would provide families with alternative learning options whenever conventional schooling becomes unsafe.

The association argued that such a policy would help prevent disruptions to the education of children living in areas plagued by terrorism, insurgency, banditry and kidnapping.

HURIWA also commended the Nigeria Police Force for the recent rescue of Adegoke Adelabu, the sister of the former Minister of Power, and her twin children following their abduction.

The group described the operation as evidence that security agencies are capable of achieving positive results when adequate resources and urgency are deployed.

However, it questioned whether similar levels of commitment are consistently applied in cases involving ordinary citizens who lack political influence or social prominence.

The association stressed that security and justice should not be determined by social status, political connections or economic standing, insisting that every Nigerian deserves equal protection under the law.

HURIWA listed several demands, including the immediate rescue and safe return of the Askira-Uba schoolchildren, comprehensive security protection for schools nationwide, full implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative, incorporation of home education into Nigeria’s educational policy framework, equal treatment of all kidnapping victims, and regular public briefings on efforts to rescue the children.

The group warned that Nigeria cannot claim significant victories against terrorism while schoolchildren continue to be abducted from classrooms, adding that the protection of children must remain a national priority.

It urged authorities to act decisively and swiftly, saying the safety of Nigerian children is non-negotiable and requires urgent intervention.