A coalition of civil society organizations has disclosed that no fewer than 19,980 persons have been killed, while 12,362 others were abducted across Nigeria since President Bola Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023. The figures, which exclude casualties from regular crimes such as armed robbery, highlight the severity of insecurity in a country that insists it is not at war.
Atiku Slams Tinubu Government
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the Tinubu-led administration, stating that kidnappings and violent attacks have become so rampant that many Nigerians now budget for ransom payments the same way they budget for school fees or rent. He also slammed the administration's attempt to justify Nigeria's growing debt burden despite worsening economic hardship and insecurity.
Stakeholders Seek Stronger Global Action Against Child Abduction
Stakeholders have called for stronger collaboration among governments, schools, security agencies, and international organizations to protect children from abduction, trafficking, and abuse across borders. The call was made at a Children's Day event organized in Lagos by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) with the theme 'Safe Schools, Secure Borders: International Cooperation Against Child Abduction'.
Coalition Report Details
The coalition of CSOs, in a joint statement issued to commemorate the Ninth National Day of Mourning with the theme 'Nigerian Lives Matter' and signed by 52 organizations, cited data collated from massatrocities.org that at least 1,486 security personnel were also killed in active duty during the period. The CSOs include Global Rights, BudgIT, Centre for Social Justice, and others.
According to the report, at least 865 students have been abducted from schools across the country since 2023, while thousands of children remain displaced or out of classrooms, worsening Nigeria's out-of-school children crisis. The coalition also expressed concern over alleged extra-judicial killings and civilian casualties during security operations, including repeated incidents of accidental airstrikes on civilian communities.
Call for Accountability
The coalition called on the Federal Government to urgently fulfill its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property, prosecute perpetrators of violent crimes, strengthen intelligence gathering and rapid response systems, disrupt kidnapping and ransom networks, and provide humanitarian support for victims and displaced persons. It also demanded improved protection for schools, farming communities, women, children, and other vulnerable groups.
Atiku's Statement
Atiku, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, accused the Presidency of being disconnected from the realities facing ordinary Nigerians. He said the Tinubu administration had reduced governance to a public relations exercise in which millions of Nigerians struggle with hunger, inflation, insecurity, and economic uncertainty, while the government celebrates debt figures.
NIIA Event Highlights
Director of Research, NIIA, Prof. Joshua Bolarinwa, said the Children's Day event was a moment for reflection on the growing threats facing children globally. He lamented that schools, which should serve as sanctuaries of learning and safety, had increasingly become targets of terror and violence, while borders meant to define sovereignty had turned into channels for trafficking and exploitation.
Head, International Law Unit, NIIA, Dr. Rita Agu, stressed that child protection goes beyond signing international agreements and passing laws, noting that implementation remains the biggest challenge. She explained that weak implementation, lack of awareness, inadequate resources, and the culture of silence often prevent vulnerable children from getting help. Dr. Agu urged teachers, parents, and communities to become more proactive in identifying signs of abuse among children.
Senior Research Fellow at the NIIA, Dr. Philippa Inyang, highlighted the growing role of international partnerships in combating child trafficking and cross-border abduction. Director-General, NIIA, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, assured children of a bright future, adding that many of them had the potential to become governors, doctors, lawyers, diplomats, entrepreneurs, and global change-makers. Research fellow, NIIA, Beauty Ogbologu, said that safe schools are not a privilege but a minimum standard of child protection required under international law.
