Amnesty International Nigeria has raised the alarm that the recent mass abductions of pupils and students from schools will cause a serious setback to education in Northern Nigeria.
The Country Director, Isa Sanusi, explained that the trauma associated with abduction, or the fear of being abducted, will prevent thousands of children from going to school and accessing education.
Speaking to WADR on Monday, Sanusi expressed concern that many parents will now be hesitant to send their children to school due to the growing wave of school kidnappings.
This spike has seen the Bauchi State government ordering the immediate closure of all public and private schools across the state, including state-owned primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions, as well as Federal Government–owned schools.
It joins the list of states such as Yobe, Kebbi and Katsina, that have shut down schools due to heightened insecurity and the recent mass abductions of students in parts of the country.
The Amnesty International Country Director warned that this could result in an entire generation of children being denied access to education.