Amnesty International has ramped up pressure on Nigerian authorities to ensure the safe return of all abducted citizens and protect people from increasing insecurity in parts of the country.
In a statement released Monday, the human rights organization slammed the “consistent failure” of the Nigerian government to shield civilians from the threat of attacks and kidnappings.
“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,” Amnesty stated.
The strongly-worded statement comes amid a spate of high-profile abductions across Nigeria in recent months by armed gangs and militant groups.
Hundreds of victims, including children, have been taken in mass kidnappings targeting schools, villages, and transportation routes in the country’s northern regions plagued by insecurity.
Amnesty accused Nigerian security forces of failing to take adequate preventative measures or respond swiftly to rescue abducted civilians despite collecting ransoms.
It also called on the government to prioritize the safe release and rehabilitation of all abductees through comprehensive action plans.
“The ramshackle state of the schools in Kuriga where 287 students were abducted last week is another reminder of the woeful state of education in rural areas of Kaduna state and failure of the authorities to prioritise welfare and safety of the people,” it said.
Kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative criminal enterprise in parts of northwest and central Nigeria plagued by armed gangs, posing a major security challenge for the government.
