Probe security lapses enabling Zamfara abductions, Amnesty urges FG

Amnesty International has called on the Federal Government to investigate the security lapses that are enabling abduction in Zamfara State.

The Country Director, Amnesty International, Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, in a statement obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, said the Nigerian authorities had repeatedly claimed to be tackling the security situation in Zamfara State, but the ruthless activities of gunmen told a different story.

The PUNCH reports that in recent times, Zamfara State has consistently witnessed the abduction of students and National Youths Service Corps members.

An unspecified number of students of the Federal University of Gusau, were reportedly abducted from their rented lodge in Sabon Gida, Bungudu LGA of the state in the early hours of Friday, September 22. Meanwhile, troops of the Nigerian Army have reportedly rescued six females among the abducted University students.

Also in August 2023, eight members of the National Youth Service Corps traveling from Akwa-Ibom State to Sokoto State were kidnapped in Zamfara State to Sokoto State.

Reacting to the developments on Sunday, Sanusi said, “The Nigerian authorities must 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

“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 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 that 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.”