…as Amnesty decries fresh abduction of school children
By Uche Onyeali
Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Olatunji Disu has expressed deep concern over the tragic attack and abduction that occurred in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State in the early hours of last Friday.
The IGP, who made the expression when he paid a visit to Oyo State, following the incident, extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during the attack.
This is even as international human rights group, Amnesty International, has expressed concern over the recent abduction of dozens of schoolchildren by armed groups in parts of Northern and Southern Nigeria, urging authorities to take urgent steps to rescue the victims and secure schools across the country.
Disu was accompanied on the visit by the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, owing to the strategic proximity of the Oriire axis to communities bordering Kwara State, as well as the Commissioner of Police, Schools Protection Squad, CP Abayomi Shogunle.
During the visit, the IGP met with the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga, alongside other security stakeholders, where he received operational briefings on ongoing rescue efforts and security deployments across the affected communities.
He assured residents, parents and guardians that the Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with other security agencies, has intensified coordinated search-and-rescue operations, intelligence gathering and tactical deployments aimed at securing the safe return of all abducted victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
He condemned the attack as cruel and unacceptable, reiterating that no effort would be spared in restoring normalcy to the affected communities.
IGP Disu directed the deployment of additional tactical and intelligence assets to strengthen ongoing operations in the area and adjoining forests.
Meanwhile, reacting to the barrage of attacks on schools in parts of the country, Amnesty International urged authorities to take urgent steps to rescue the victims and secure schools across the country.
The organisation in a statement issued yesterday, described the incidents as “alarming,” noting that the attacks targeted schools, children and entire communities within days.
According to Amnesty International, at least 82 schoolchildren were abducted between May 13 and 15 during separate attacks in Borno and Oyo States.
The rights group said 42 pupils were kidnapped on May 13 and 14 after armed groups attacked schools in Askira Uba and Chibok Local Government Areas of Borno State in the North-East.
It added that another 40 schoolchildren were reportedly abducted on May 15 after gunmen invaded communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The affected schools include Primary and Government Day Junior Secondary School, GDSS, Mussa, Local Authority School in Askira Uba, Ahoro-Esinele, and Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele in Oriire.
“The Nigerian authorities must take immediate and decisive action to investigate these incidents, rescue the victims safely and take more concrete prevention measures to stop the endless targeting of schools and children,” Amnesty International said.
The organisation noted that some of the victims were as young as two years old, warning that repeated attacks on schools are worsening the educational crisis in Nigeria.
“Many abducted children and teachers are never released by their abductors. The possibility of abduction is forcing millions of children to abandon education,” the statement said.
It also accused the authorities of repeatedly failing to investigate school abductions and prosecute perpetrators, saying victims and their families are often denied justice and effective remedies.
The group said the inability of authorities to guarantee the safety of citizens amount to a violation of Nigeria’s obligations under the constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
