SERAP, Baptist Convention Demand Urgent Action Over Oyo School Abductions

SERAP, Baptist Convention Demand Urgent Action Over Oyo School Abductions

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Baptist Convention have called for urgent action over the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, as concerns over insecurity continue to grow nationwide.

SERAP, in an open letter to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, urged the UN to invoke Article 99 of the UN Charter to bring Nigeria’s worsening security situation before the UN Security Council.

The organisation said the scale of abductions, killings and displacement across parts of the country now poses a threat to international peace and security.

It cited repeated attacks in Oyo, Benue, Borno, Plateau, Kaduna and Zamfara States, arguing that urgent international attention was needed to address the crisis.

SERAP also referenced reports of mass killings and attacks on civilians, stating that existing responses by authorities had failed to stop the rising wave of violence.

The group stressed that stronger international oversight and coordinated action were necessary to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further escalation.

In a separate reaction, the Nigerian Baptist Convention expressed deep concern over the abduction of pupils, teachers and even a toddler during the attack in Oyo State.

The Convention described the incident as heartbreaking, noting that victims were being held in harsh conditions without adequate shelter or protection.

Its President, Rev. Israel Akanji, recalled previous attacks on schools, including the 2021 abduction of students in Kaduna State, describing the trend as deeply alarming.

The Baptist leader urged governments at all levels to adopt more coordinated and technology-driven security measures to protect schools, churches and communities.

He also called on traditional rulers and community leaders to play more active roles in addressing insecurity at the grassroots level.

The Convention further renewed its call for the establishment of state police, arguing that decentralised security structures would improve response time and effectiveness in tackling kidnappings and banditry.

Both SERAP and the Baptist Convention urged immediate and decisive action to secure the release of all abducted victims and restore safety in affected communities across Nigeria.

About the Author

Adesokan Oluwasegun is a journalist and blogger with four years of experience, specializing in politics, business and economy, metro reporting and editorial writing that provides analysis and opinion on key issues .