To:
UN Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict
Subject: Urgent International Intervention for the Safe Rescue of 39 Pupils and 7 Teachers Abducted in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria
Your Excellencies,
We write with profound anguish and urgency to draw the attention of the United Nations, UNICEF, and the international community to the mass abduction of thirty-nine (39) pupils and seven (7) teachers from Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria.
Among those abducted are schoolchildren as young as two years old and educators who dedicated their lives to serving their communities. This attack represents not only a grave violation of human rights but also a direct assault on children’s right to education, safety, dignity, and life itself.
We are devastated by reports that one of the abducted teachers, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, was subsequently killed. This tragic development heightens fears for the lives and wellbeing of the remaining captives and underscores the urgent need for immediate action.
The abduction of children and teachers from educational institutions is a serious violation of international humanitarian and human rights principles. Schools must remain places of learning and hope, not targets of violence and terror.
In light of these alarming developments, we respectfully call upon the United Nations, UNICEF, and relevant international agencies to take the following urgent actions:
- Demand Full Compliance with Nigeria’s Commitments Under the Safe Schools Declaration
Nigeria endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration and committed itself to protecting students, teachers, and educational facilities from attack and ensuring continued access to education during situations of insecurity.
We urge the United Nations and UNICEF to publicly and privately engage with the Federal Government of Nigeria to ensure that every available lawful resource is deployed for the immediate, safe, and unconditional rescue of the abducted children and teachers. The government must be held accountable for fulfilling its obligations to protect learners and educational personnel.
- Mobilise International Diplomatic Pressure
We call on the United Nations, member states, diplomatic missions, regional bodies, and international partners to exert sustained diplomatic pressure on Nigerian authorities to prioritise the rescue operation and provide transparent updates on efforts being undertaken.
The lives of these children and teachers cannot be allowed to disappear into silence. International attention and diplomatic engagement are essential to ensuring that their plight remains a priority and that all possible measures are taken to secure their safe return.
- Provide Humanitarian, Child Protection, and Monitoring Support
We respectfully request UNICEF and relevant UN agencies to:
Deploy child protection and humanitarian support mechanisms for the affected communities;
Provide psychosocial assistance and trauma support for the families of the abducted victims;
Establish independent monitoring and reporting mechanisms regarding the welfare and safety of the captives;
Support reintegration, rehabilitation, and educational recovery efforts upon the victims’ release.
Many of the affected families have made it clear that no financial palliative can compensate for the loss of their children. Their foremost demand is the safe return of their loved ones. They deserve solidarity, protection, and meaningful support during this traumatic period.
- Strengthen International Monitoring of Attacks on Education
This incident demonstrates the continuing vulnerability of schools and educational communities to violent attacks. We urge the United Nations to strengthen monitoring, reporting, and preventive measures concerning attacks on education in Nigeria and to support long-term strategies that ensure schools remain safe environments for learning.
A Humanitarian Imperative
Behind every statistic is a child with dreams, a family living in anguish, and a community suffering profound fear and uncertainty. The youngest victims are only toddlers. Their continued captivity represents an ongoing humanitarian emergency that demands immediate international attention.
We therefore appeal to the conscience of the world and to the mandate of the United Nations and UNICEF to stand with these children, their teachers, and their families.
We ask for urgent intervention, sustained advocacy, and coordinated action until every abducted child and teacher is safely reunited with their loved ones.
The lives of these children matter.
Their education matters.
Their future matters.
We respectfully request your immediate attention and action.
Yours faithfully,
Dr Dauda Awwal
CEO/Founder, The National Press Newspaper, London
Founder: Total Support Group for Nigerians in Diaspora, UK
