Amnesty International has raised fresh concern over the growing wave of school abductions in northern Nigeria, warning that the country is facing an education emergency that threatens the future of an entire generation.
The organisation sounded the alarm after confirming that 20,468 schools across seven northern states have been forced to shut indefinitely, following the recent mass kidnapping of more than 300 children and teachers from St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State. For many families already traumatised by years of insecurity, the closures represent yet another heavy blow to their children’s hopes of learning in safety.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, described the unfolding crisis as “an assault on childhood and an utter failure to guarantee the safety and security of school children and teachers.” He said the fear gripping communities is not new but has deepened with each attack.
“Hundreds of towns and villages have for many years endured frequent attacks by gunmen, leaving children and teachers unsafe,” he noted, urging the government to confront the worsening reality with a new sense of urgency and commitment.
Amnesty International traced the roots of the crisis back to the 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls in Chibok, an event that shocked the world and marked the beginning of a disturbing trend. Since that incident, the group has documented at least 15 mass kidnappings involving schoolchildren and teachers, with many more cases likely unreported.
The organisation criticised what it described as authorities’ repeated failure to investigate these attacks or bring the perpetrators to justice. According to Sanusi, the inability to hold attackers accountable represents “a serious breach of their human rights obligations, including under the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
Amnesty also expressed deep concern about the fate of children who are never rescued. Sanusi warned that a significant number of abducted children and teachers are never released by their captors, leaving families trapped in prolonged grief and uncertainty. The constant threat of kidnapping, he said, is driving millions of children out of school entirely.
“The possibility of abduction is forcing millions of children to abandon education, while underage girls are having their education terminated and forced into marriage as a means of avoiding abduction at school,” he added.
The organisation further highlighted the toll school closures are taking on communities. While shutting down schools may provide temporary safety, Amnesty warned that leaving them closed indefinitely is not a sustainable solution. In regions where security has continued to deteriorate, thousands of children have been pushed into labour or early marriage, while others take on risky work to support their families.
“Many schools that are closed to prevent abductions remain closed indefinitely because security is not improving in affected areas,” Sanusi said, noting that the consequences will reverberate across the country for years to come.
Recent attacks have underscored the severity of the crisis. In addition to the mass abduction in Niger State, 25 schoolgirls were seized last week from Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State. The attack came just days after armed men raided St. Mary’s School in Papiri, abducting more than 300 children and teachers.
These incidents, Amnesty noted, reflect a troubling pattern in which security intelligence fails to detect or prevent imminent attacks, despite clear warning signs in some cases.
Amnesty International stressed that Nigeria’s constitutional and international commitments require it to do far more to protect its young citizens. The country is a signatory to key human rights treaties, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC).
Sanusi said these treaties reinforce the right to education, health, and protection from violence, yet many of these rights are being eroded in communities living under constant threat of armed groups.
The organisation also criticised authorities for failing to deliver on repeated promises to investigate past abductions and prosecute those responsible. While government officials have often vowed to respond decisively to attacks, Amnesty noted that many families are still waiting for justice years later.
“The authorities must live up to their legal obligations to ensure rights to education, to the highest attainable standard of health, to protection from physical or mental violence, and to protection from torture and other ill-treatment,” Sanusi said.
Looking ahead, Amnesty urged the Nigerian government to take bold, practical steps to restore safety and trust in the school system. These measures, the organisation said, must include greater investment in education, reinforced security in vulnerable areas, and targeted efforts to dismantle the armed groups that prey on schools. Ending violent attacks on rural communities, Amnesty insisted, is essential for ensuring every child’s right to learn.