Insecurity: Hold those responsible to account — UN tells Nigerian Government
The United Nations has issued a stern condemnation of the rising wave of mass abductions in north-central Nigeria, urging the Federal Government to act swiftly and decisively to stop the attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, UN rights office spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said the organization is alarmed by the scale and frequency of the recent kidnappings.
“We are shocked at the recent surge in mass abductions in north-central Nigeria. We urge the Nigerian authorities at all levels to take all lawful measures to halt these vile attacks and hold those responsible to account,” Al-Kheetan said.
According to UN figures, at least 402 people, mostly school children, have been abducted in Niger, Kebbi, Kwara, and Borno States since November 17, with only 88 reportedly freed or able to escape.
The UN called on authorities to prioritize the safe rescue of all captives and to conduct prompt, impartial and effective investigations into the attacks.
The spike in insecurity has already forced widespread school closures. The national education ministry has ordered 47 boarding secondary schools to shut down as fears escalate.
Nigeria has battled recurring mass kidnappings, typically by armed criminal gangs seeking ransom, since the abduction of nearly 300 Chibok schoolgirls in 2014. Borno State, also listed among the affected areas, remains the center of a prolonged
