Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has given President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a 24-hour deadline to secure the release of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State, warning that continued delay would represent a failure in the government’s constitutional responsibility to protect lives.
The group said the kidnapped victims were taken on Friday, May 16, 2026, after armed attackers stormed the Ahoro-Esinle area in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, targeting school communities in a coordinated raid that left residents in shock.
Security authorities confirmed that dozens of pupils and several teachers were abducted during the attack, and more than two weeks later, they are still being held despite ongoing rescue efforts and rising public protests across the state and beyond.
In a statement issued by HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the organisation expressed concern over what it described as slow progress in securing the victims’ release.
It also referenced President Tinubu’s recent public appearance during a Sallah celebration, stressing that while the president was seen with his family, the abducted children remain in captivity and must be urgently rescued.
The group insisted that every extra day in captivity deepens the national crisis and reflects negatively on Nigeria’s security response and governance system.
Citing constitutional responsibility under Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, HURIWA maintained that protecting citizens’ lives and welfare is the core duty of government and demanded immediate action from the Commander-in-Chief, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It also voiced support for ongoing protests in Ibadan involving parents, teachers, and civil society groups, calling them a justified reaction to the situation.
However, it criticised what it described as a weak response from major labour and education unions, including the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Nigeria Union of Teachers, urging stronger nationwide pressure to secure the victims’ freedom.
HURIWA further warned against the normalisation of mass abductions in the country, stressing that repeated attacks on schools pose a serious threat to education and the future of the nation.
Meanwhile, security agencies say search-and-rescue operations are still ongoing, while families of the abducted victims continue to wait in fear and uncertainty.
The Oyo State government has also confirmed the incident and assured residents that efforts are ongoing to bring the victims home safely.
