UN urges Nigeria to act against mass kidnappings

 

The United Nations has urged Nigeria to take "all lawful measures" to halt the recent surge in mass kidnappings, ensure the safe return of those abducted, and bring the perpetrators to justice. The appeal follows the abduction of hundreds of people, mostly schoolchildren, in a matter of days in November 2025.

Recent Abductions: Since November 17, at least 402 people, most of them schoolchildren, have been abducted across the states of Niger, Kebbi, Kwara, and Borno. Only 88 have reportedly been freed or escaped captivity.

Targeting Schools: The recent kidnappings have specifically targeted educational institutions, including St. Mary's School in Papiri, Niger state, where over 300 students and teachers were taken. This has prompted the UN to stress that schools should be "sanctuaries for education, not targets".

Security Concerns: The escalating security crisis has led to school closures in several parts of the country.

Perpetrators: Mass kidnappings in Nigeria are mostly carried out by criminal gangs seeking ransom payments, though the country also deals with a long-running extremist insurgency, primarily Boko Haram and an ISIS branch.

Safe Schools Declaration: UN officials, including Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, have called for the full implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration, which Nigeria endorsed in 2015.

Humanitarian Concerns: The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that the violence, compounded by funding shortages, could lead to a severe food insecurity crisis, affecting almost 35 million people and potentially allowing insurgent groups to exploit hunger and desperation to strengthen their influence.

UNICEF continues to work with local partners to strengthen child protection systems in line with the declaration that no child should be put at risk while pursuing an education.