Amnesty Condemns Continued Captivity of 42 Abducted Borno Schoolchildren After 108 Days

By: Peter Emmanuel |

Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned the continued captivity of 42 schoolchildren abducted from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, saying the children have now spent 108 days in the hands of their abductors.

The children were abducted on May 15, 2026, by suspected Boko Haram insurgents, according to Amnesty International Nigeria. The organisation said the incident involved schoolchildren, including toddlers, who have remained in captivity for more than three months without being rescued.

Amnesty raised concern over the prolonged captivity of the children in a statement highlighting the wider security crisis affecting schoolchildren across northern Nigeria. It said the incident was part of a disturbing pattern of abductions that has continued across the region since the children were taken.

The organisation stressed that no child should be subjected to such danger simply for seeking an education. It said children should be able to attend school without having to face the threat of abduction, violence or captivity.

Amnesty also warned that the prolonged insecurity was having serious consequences for children’s education and wellbeing, urging the Nigerian government to take urgent steps to protect schoolchildren and ensure that those still in captivity are safely rescued.

42 Schoolchildren Remain in Captivity After 108 Days

The 42 children were taken from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba LGA on May 15, with suspected Boko Haram insurgents blamed for the attack. Amnesty said no ransom demands had been reported in connection with the abduction.

The prolonged absence of the children has continued to raise concerns among their parents and members of the affected community. Amnesty said parents have continued to protest the lack of concrete updates on efforts to secure the release of their children.

Following the attack, the Borno State Government closed the affected school and relocated students to safer locations. The measure was intended to protect students from further attacks amid the security challenges facing the area.

However, Amnesty said the closure of the school does not resolve the broader danger confronting children in the region. It argued that children cannot fully exercise their right to education when schools remain vulnerable to attacks and communities continue to live under the threat of abduction.

The organisation said the fact that the children have spent 108 days in captivity should serve as a reminder of the urgent need for stronger protection of schools and communities. It called for intensified efforts to locate and safely rescue the children still being held.

Insecurity Forces Northern Schools to Close as Children Abandon Education

Amnesty warned that the consequences of insecurity extend beyond individual abductions, with hundreds of schools in some northern states reportedly closed indefinitely because of escalating attacks and threats. The closures have disrupted the education of thousands of children.

The organisation said many children have also abandoned their education after experiencing the psychological trauma associated with violent attacks or periods spent in captivity. Such experiences, it noted, can have lasting effects on children’s ability to return to normal learning.

The continued disruption has raised concerns about the future of children in communities where insecurity has made regular schooling difficult or impossible. Children who are unable to attend school for prolonged periods risk falling further behind their peers.

Amnesty stressed that education should not become a matter of life and death for children in Nigeria. It said every child should have the opportunity to attend school in an environment where their safety is guaranteed.

The organisation described the situation as another failure to protect Nigerian children, warning that continued insecurity could further deepen the education crisis in northern Nigeria if urgent action is not taken.

Amnesty Demands Urgent Rescue, Accountability

Amnesty International Nigeria called on the Nigerian government to do more to safely rescue the 42 schoolchildren and all other children who remain in captivity across the country.

It urged the authorities to provide affected families with concrete information about efforts to locate and rescue their loved ones. The organisation said families should not be left without clear answers while their children remain missing for months.

Amnesty also called for suspected perpetrators of the abductions to be held accountable. It stressed that those responsible for attacks on children and schools must face justice to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

The organisation further urged the government to strengthen security around schools and communities affected by insurgency and other forms of criminal violence. It said protecting children must remain a priority as authorities work to address the wider insecurity crisis.

Amnesty said the continued captivity of the Borno schoolchildren should prompt urgent action from the authorities, stressing that children must be able to access education without fear of abduction or violence.