The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) says the abduction of the students and staff of Government Science College in Kangara, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, suggests that the Nigerian government has failed in providing a safe learning space for the people.
In reaction to the abduction which took place in the early hours of Wednesday, SERAP said it will hold the government to account if the students and others abducted are not urgently rescued.
“The abductors must be arrested and brought to justice. Victims must be granted access to justice. The incident, which started at about 2:00am on Wednesday, suggests that Nigerian authorities are failing to live up to their commitments to provide safe a learning environment,” SERAP stated.
The rights group said it will hold the Nigerian Government accountable if the students are not urgently rescued.
SERAP further asked the government to probe the reported spending of N3.2bn on the Safe School Initiative in 2014, and publish details of spending to date on the Initiative.
According to SERAP, public funds budgeted for the initiative have clearly not achieved a safe school environment for children in the country.
The advocacy group also stressed that attacking students and teachers is a crime against humanity, adding that such attacks inflict severe psychological distress on victims, and cause interruptions in education.
