The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take immediate and decisive action to rescue about 80 schoolchildren and teachers reportedly held captive by terrorists in Borno State for nearly six months.
HURIWA said the President has a legal, constitutional and moral obligation to ensure the safe return of the abducted children, stressing that Nigerians should not have to beg their government to protect their lives.
The association expressed concern that the prolonged captivity of the victims has raised troubling questions about the effectiveness of the government’s security response and its commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens.
HURIWA said the President, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, bears a central responsibility for providing leadership, direction and coordination in the national security response.
It stressed that protecting lives and property is a fundamental responsibility of government under the Constitution, alongside the promotion of the welfare of citizens.
The association maintained that the continued captivity of the children demands urgent presidential intervention, effective coordination among security agencies and clear communication with the affected families.
The victims were reportedly abducted in two separate attacks in Mussa and Lassa communities in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State between May and June 2026.
Reports indicate that about 40 to 44 children were taken in the first attack, although the exact number remains disputed, while 36 pupils and a teacher were reportedly abducted in the second incident.
The prolonged captivity has caused severe distress among affected families, some of whom have publicly questioned why their children remain in captivity while pupils abducted in a separate incident in Oyo State were released after 57 days.
HURIWA said the concerns expressed by the parents deserve urgent attention rather than repeated assurances without publicly verifiable progress.
The association also called for a comprehensive review of the Safe School Initiative, introduced after the 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State.
It said the persistence of school abductions more than a decade after the initiative’s introduction points to the need for stronger implementation, improved intelligence gathering, better coordination among security agencies and accountability for lapses.
HURIWA further stressed that securing schools must go beyond physical infrastructure to include early-warning systems, rapid emergency responses and effective protection for communities surrounding vulnerable schools.
The association urged the Federal Government to intensify lawful and intelligence-led efforts to secure the release of all the captives without exposing them to additional danger.
It also called on the authorities to provide affected families with credible updates on rescue efforts while avoiding disclosures that could compromise ongoing security operations.
HURIWA said the children must not be allowed to become forgotten victims of Nigeria’s protracted insecurity crisis.
The association insisted that the safe return of the abducted pupils and their teachers must remain an urgent national priority and called on the President to demonstrate the leadership required to bring their ordeal to an end.
Signed:
Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko
National Coordinator
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA)
11 Oct 2026
