Abductions: Protection of lives low on list of government’s priorities, says Amnesty

Amnesty International has asked the federal government to take necessary action to ensure the release of students and internally displaced persons (IDPs) abducted in Kaduna and Borno states.

In a statement on Saturday, Isa Sanusi, director of Amnesty International Nigeria, said the recent abductions have shown that the Nigerian government does not prioritise the protection of lives and properties.

Sanusi said the Nigerian government has failed to address the issue of insecurity since the abduction of Chibok schoolgirls in 2014.

“The latest mass abductions clearly show President Bola Tinubu and his government have no effective plan for ending years of atrocities by armed groups and gunmen that are increasingly having a free reign across many parts of Nigeria. Whatever security measures being implemented by President Tinubu and his government are clearly not working,” he said.

“Given the rising level of insecurity in Nigeria today, it is obvious that protecting lives and property is low on the list of government priorities. People should not be left to live in fear of the next attack or abduction. The Nigerian authorities’ consistent failure to protect people is completely unacceptable and must end,” said Isa Sanusi.

“Amnesty International is calling for those with command responsibilities for security in the areas where the abductions took place to be held to account for the glaring failures that have put the lives of hundreds of people in danger.

“In the decade since Boko Haram kidnapped 276 school girls from Chibok, there have been several more mass abductions which the Nigerian authorities have failed to effectively investigate. As a result, suspected perpetrators have not been brought to justice.”

Isa said the government has failed to ensure proper “security plans for schools in vulnerable areas despite the abduction of hundreds of schoolchildren”.

The Amnesty director called on the Nigerian government to abide by the African charter on the rights and welfare of children.