The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has given President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a 24-hour ultimatum to secure the release of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State, warning that failure to do so would represent a breach of the government’s constitutional duty to protect lives.
The victims were abducted on May 16, 2026, when armed men attacked communities along the Ahoro-Esinle axis of Oriire Local Government Area in Oyo State, taking pupils and teachers during a coordinated assault that sparked widespread panic.
Security sources confirmed that dozens of children and several teachers were taken during the raid. More than two weeks later, they remain in captivity despite ongoing search-and-rescue operations and growing public protests across Oyo State and other parts of Nigeria.
In a statement issued Saturday and signed by HURIWA National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko, the group expressed concern over what it described as slow progress in efforts to rescue the victims.
HURIWA said every additional day in captivity deepens what it called a national tragedy and reflects weaknesses in Nigeria’s security response. It urged the president, as commander in chief of the armed forces, to ensure their immediate release.
The group referenced constitutional provisions requiring the government to safeguard citizens’ lives and welfare, arguing that prolonged abductions undermine state legitimacy.
HURIWA also voiced support for ongoing protests in Ibadan by parents, teachers, and civil society groups, describing the demonstrations as justified. It criticized what it called inadequate responses from organized labor and teacher unions, urging stronger nationwide action.
The group warned against normalizing mass kidnappings and called on civil society, religious leaders, and professional bodies to intensify peaceful advocacy until the victims are freed.
Meanwhile, security agencies continue search-and-rescue operations, while families of the abducted remain in anguish. The Oyo State government has said efforts are ongoing to secure their release.
