By Abiola Olawale
Amnesty International has raised an alarm over the escalating wave of mass school abductions in Northern Nigeria, describing the situation as an existential threat to the right to education.
Following a surge in recent kidnappings—including the mass abduction of over 300 students and teachers in Niger State and 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State in November 2025 alone—the human rights body has criticised the government for allegedly failing to safeguard schools.
Amnesty International Nigeria’s Director, Isa Sanusi, stated that the constant fear of armed bandits and Boko Haram/ISWAP-linked groups operating with impunity has triggered a severe decline in school enrollment, effectively creating a “lost generation.”
Appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Sanusi noted that rising insecurity is pushing parents to rethink the safety of sending their children to school as incidents of school kidnappings continue to escalate.
“The trauma that comes with being abducted, or with the fear of being abducted, is going to prevent thousands of children from getting an education completely,” Sanusi said.
He added that families in rural communities already struggle to keep their children in school due to economic pressures, and the current security challenges will worsen the situation.
He added, “We also have to consider the fact that in many rural areas, children play key roles in the household, so many parents already make significant sacrifices to allow their children to go to school.
“Now, with these failures, you are going to see a situation where education suffers even more setbacks, especially in Northern Nigeria. People will be scared of going to school, and parents will be more skeptical about allowing their children to attend.”
Sanusi cautioned that the unfolding situation could rob an entire generation of the right to education.
“When added to the more than 12 million children already out of school, the future looks grim and dangerous,” he added.
