The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, has called for the immediate and safe release of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in recent attacks in Oyo and Borno States, as concerns mount over rising insecurity targeting educational institutions.
Fall made the appeal after meeting with officials of the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre in Abuja, led by Dr. Samuel Umanah. He described the incidents as deeply alarming and a serious threat to child protection and access to education in Nigeria.
In a statement, the UN official expressed solidarity with affected families, school authorities, and communities, stressing that schools must remain safe spaces for learning rather than targets of violence. He urged security agencies to intensify rescue efforts and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
In Oyo State, armed attackers reportedly stormed three schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, abducting more than 40 pupils and seven teachers. The affected institutions include Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community High School, Ahoro-Esienle; and L.A. Primary School. The attack also left two teachers dead, according to reports.
A similar incident occurred in Mussa community, Borno State, where gunmen invaded three schools and abducted over 40 children, many of them aged between two and five years. The victims’ whereabouts remain unknown, heightening fears among families and communities.
Fall reiterated that children must never be targets of violence, adding that such attacks undermine national development and violate basic human rights. He reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting safe school initiatives and strengthening protective systems for learners across Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State House of Assembly has firmly rejected calls for negotiations with the armed groups responsible for the abductions in Oriire LGA, insisting instead on intensified security operations to secure the release of the victims.
Lawmakers adopted the resolution following a motion of urgent public importance, urging security agencies to act swiftly. The Assembly also directed relevant education authorities to carry out urgent security audits of schools located near forested and border communities.
Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin said negotiating with kidnappers would only encourage further attacks, arguing that concessions could embolden criminal groups. He maintained that the state must prioritise decisive rescue operations over dialogue with armed actors.
In contrast, Governor Seyi Makinde has previously indicated openness to dialogue if it would facilitate the safe return of the abducted victims, though he stressed that his administration would not submit to terrorism.
In Borno State, families of the abducted pupils from Mussa community say they are still living in anguish nearly three weeks after the attack, with no confirmed information about the children’s whereabouts or condition.
Parents said no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, leaving them in prolonged uncertainty. One parent, Saleh Buba, who has two children among the victims, said even infants were taken during the raid, worsening the emotional toll on families.
He added that attempts to contact alleged intermediaries believed to have links with the abductors have failed, deepening fears that the children’s location remains unknown.
Community leaders and local representatives say families are experiencing severe psychological distress, with some parents reportedly developing stress-related health conditions due to the prolonged uncertainty.
Public pressure over the abductions has also spilled into the streets of Abuja, where protesters under the Take-It-Back Movement marched to demand urgent government action. Led by activist Omoyele Sowore, demonstrators called for the immediate rescue of the children and criticised the handling of insecurity in the country.
The protest led to heavy security deployment around key federal institutions, including the Presidential Villa, National Assembly, and Supreme Court, resulting in traffic disruptions across parts of the capital.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to securing the release of the victims. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, assured Nigerians that all security and intelligence agencies have been mobilised for ongoing rescue operations.
The government said coordinated efforts involving the military, police, intelligence agencies, and counterterrorism units are ongoing, combining surveillance, intelligence gathering, and search-and-rescue missions.
Officials at the Office of the National Security Adviser also stated that the timing of rescue operations is determined strictly by intelligence assessments, stressing that decisions are guided by the need to protect hostages and ensure successful outcomes rather than public pressure.
Authorities maintained that efforts are ongoing and reaffirmed their commitment to bringing all abducted pupils and teachers home safely.
