The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to secure the release of abducted teachers and schoolchildren from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State within 24 hours, warning that continued failure to rescue the victims raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the nation’s security architecture.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday, the rights group expressed outrage that more than two weeks after the abduction, the victims remain in captivity despite repeated assurances from authorities.
HURIWA described the situation as a “national tragedy” and a painful reflection of the government’s inability to fulfill its constitutional obligation to protect citizens.
The statement, signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said every additional day the children and their teachers spend in the hands of kidnappers represents a devastating indictment of Nigeria’s security system.
According to the group, the disturbing images and reports of schoolchildren, including very young pupils allegedly being held under harsh conditions, should have triggered an immediate nationwide emergency response.
Instead, HURIWA lamented what it called a pattern of official promises without visible results.
The organisation urged President Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to ensure the immediate and safe rescue of the victims, stressing that the continued captivity of innocent schoolchildren undermines public confidence in government and weakens faith in the country’s security institutions.
Citing Section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution, HURIWA noted that the security and welfare of citizens remain the primary purpose of government and argued that no administration can claim success while schoolchildren remain in the custody of armed criminals for weeks.
The group threw its weight behind teachers, parents and civil society organisations that have staged protests in Ibadan to demand urgent action, describing the demonstrations as a justified response to an unacceptable situation.
HURIWA also expressed disappointment with what it described as the muted reaction of organised labour, particularly the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), arguing that the abduction of educators and pupils should have sparked stronger nationwide advocacy and sustained pressure on authorities.
The rights group further questioned the silence of student organisations across the country, insisting that an attack on schoolchildren is an attack on education and the future of Nigeria.
It called on civil society organisations, professional bodies, religious groups and community leaders to intensify peaceful advocacy until all abducted teachers and pupils regain their freedom.
“The nation cannot afford to become desensitised to mass abductions,” the statement said.
“We cannot allow a situation where children leave home for school and disappear into captivity while their families endure endless anguish and uncertainty.”
HURIWA maintained that the suffering of the victims and their families demands urgent action rather than routine official statements, urging security agencies to deploy every available resource to secure the children’s release.
“The lives of these innocent children and teachers are priceless. Nigeria must bring them home now,” the group declared.