The United Nations has condemned the alarming rise in mass abductions across north-central Nigeria, urging authorities to act swiftly to halt the attacks and bring those responsible to justice.
Speaking at a briefing in Geneva on Tuesday, UN human rights office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan expressed deep concern over the escalating wave of kidnappings targeting schoolchildren and rural communities.
“We are shocked at the recent surge in mass abductions in north-central Nigeria,” Al-Kheetan said. “We urge the Nigerian authorities at all levels to take all lawful measures to ensure such vile attacks are halted and to hold those responsible to account.”
According to UN figures, at least 402 people most of them schoolchildren have been abducted across Niger, Kebbi, Kwara and Borno states since November 17. Thus far, only 88 victims have reportedly escaped or been rescued, leaving hundreds still in captivity.
The worsening pattern of violence has reignited national alarm and reopened debates about the government’s capacity to secure vulnerable communities. The UN called for the “safe return of all those still in captivity” and pressed Nigerian authorities to conduct “prompt, impartial, and effective investigations” into the attacks.
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The recent abductions have triggered widespread school closures in several affected states, heightening fears for the safety of children. The crisis draws painful parallels to the 2014 Chibok abduction, where nearly 300 schoolgirls were kidnapped by Boko Haram an incident that marked the beginning of an era of mass school kidnappings in Nigeria.
Borno State remains the epicentre of a long-running insurgency which has claimed more than 40,000 lives since 2009. The UN warned that the combination of extremist violence and criminal kidnappings continues to threaten stability in Africa’s most populous nation.
As families wait desperately for news, international pressure is mounting on the Nigerian government to urgently strengthen security, protect schools, and restore confidence in the safety of its citizens.