‘Schools should be safe places’ — Amnesty asks FG to investigate Zamfara varsity abduction 

Amnesty International has asked the federal government to investigate the “inexcusable security lapses” that led to the abduction of students of the Federal University of Gusau (FUG) in Zamfara. 

On Friday, bandits attacked the university and made away with over 20 students. 

According to a statement issued on Sunday by Isa Sanusi, the director of Amnesty International Nigeria, the organisation described the abduction as a violation of international humanitarian law. 

Amnesty International said no person should be made to choose between their education and life. 

It added that the abduction undermines the abductees’ right to education.

“The Nigerian authorities should take all lawful measures and do more to rescue and return to safety all the dozens of — mostly female students — of Federal University Gusau abducted by gunmen in the early hours of Friday,” the statement reads. 

“Schools should be places of safety, and no person should have to choose between their education and their life.

“The Nigerian authorities have repeatedly claimed to be tackling the security situation in Zamfara state, but the ruthless activities of gunmen tell a different story.

“The attack on Federal University Gusau and abduction of students may amount to a war crime, and it is a violation of international humanitarian law. It also undermines the right to education.

“The authorities appear to have learned nothing from the series of school abductions that took place across the northern part of Nigeria.

“The latest abduction clearly shows, there appears to be no framework in place to prevent further school abductions.

“The Nigerian authorities must investigate the inexcusable security lapses that allowed this abduction to take place.”

On Friday, of the over 20 abducted female students, 6 were rescued while another 7 were reported rescued on Monday.

This translates to 13 rescued students so far.