…Demands apology over security lapses, ₦50m compensation for each victim
By Chioma Obinna
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA), on Saturday urged the Federal Government to disclose the full circumstances surrounding the release of the schoolchildren, teachers and other victims abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, insisting that Nigerians deserve transparency on how the victims regained their freedom.
The rights group also called on President Bola Tinubu to apologise to the victims and the nation over what it described as a failure to prevent the abduction, while demanding ₦50 million compensation for each victim to support their rehabilitation, psychological recovery and educational reintegration.
In a press statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA welcomed the release of the victims after more than 50 days in captivity but argued that the government should provide a comprehensive account of the operation.
“We rejoice with the victims and their families, but the Federal Government owes Nigerians the whole truth about what transpired,” the group said.
HURIWA said Nigerians should be informed whether the victims were rescued through a security operation or released following negotiations.
“The public deserves to know whether the victims were rescued or released after negotiations. If there was a rescue operation, Nigerians should also be informed of the outcome, including whether any suspects were arrested,” it stated.
The group argued that greater transparency would strengthen public confidence in the country’s security response to kidnapping and other violent crimes.
While welcoming the victims’ freedom, HURIWA maintained that the incident exposed weaknesses in the nation’s security architecture, noting that schools should remain safe environments for learning.
The organisation also referenced the reported killing of a teacher during the abduction and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.
“It is the constitutional responsibility of government to protect lives and property. The release of the victims is welcome, but there must also be accountability and concrete steps to prevent a recurrence,” the statement added.
HURIWA further urged the Federal Government to fully implement the Safe Schools Initiative nationwide by strengthening intelligence gathering, surveillance systems and rapid response mechanisms around educational institutions.
The group also called on the National Assembly to strengthen laws against the diversion of security funds, arguing that prudent management of security resources is critical to tackling kidnapping and other security threats.
It equally appealed to security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the freedom of other Nigerians still in captivity, including schoolchildren abducted in other parts of the country.
“The release of the Oyo victims should serve as a reminder of the urgent need to protect schools and ensure that no Nigerian child is exposed to such an ordeal again,” HURIWA said.
The association urged the government to combine transparency, accountability and stronger security measures in addressing the growing threat of mass abductions across the country.
