Amnesty International has expressed deep concern over a spate of school abductions in Nigeria’s north and south over the past week, calling on authorities to act swiftly to rescue the victims and prevent further attacks on schools.
In a statement, the rights group said armed groups targeted children, schools, and entire communities in Borno and Oyo states between May 13 and 15, 2026. The victims include children as young as two years old.
According to Amnesty, 42 school children were abducted during attacks on schools in Askira Uba and Chibok Local Government Areas of Borno State on May 13 and 14. On May 15, at least 40 school children were reportedly taken after an attack in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The affected schools include Primary and Government Day Junior Secondary School GDSS Mussa, Local Authority (LA) School in Askira Uba, Ahoro-Esinele, and Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele in Oriire LGA.
Amnesty said many abducted children and teachers are never released, and that the threat of abduction is forcing millions of children to abandon school. The group added that underage girls are having their education cut short and being forced into marriage to avoid being targeted at school.
The organization criticized the Nigerian authorities for what it called a pattern of failing to investigate incidents and bring perpetrators to justice after each school abduction. It said victims and their families continue to be denied access to justice and effective remedies.
“This failure by the authorities to promote and ensure the security and safety of the population constitutes a serious breach of their human rights obligations,” Amnesty said, citing provisions under the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Amnesty called for immediate and decisive action to investigate the incidents, rescue the victims safely, and implement concrete measures to stop the targeting of schools and children.
