Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), Mr. Karim Khan (QC), to investigate the growing cases of abduction of students in Northern Nigeria, closure of schools, and the persistent failure of Nigerian authorities to end the abduction, which it said amounted to crimes against humanity.
In the petition signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation noted: “Depriving children their right to education has severe consequences for their ability to access their fundamental rights. The severe and life-long harms that result from depriving children the right to education satisfy the gravity of harm threshold under the Rome Statute.”
Nigeria’s Northwestern States of Zamfara and Katsina, and the Northcentral State of Niger have been witnessing terrifying incidences of mass abduction of school children.
The SERAP petition comes, even as over 30 armed men, at the weekend, stormed Wawa District in Borgu Local Council of Niger State and kidnapped the monarch, Dr. Mahmud Ahmed, from his palace.
Though the bandits have not established contact with the palace at the time of filing this report, it was learnt that some local vigilantes in the community were already in the forests searching for their traditional ruler.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Wasiu Abiodun, who confirmed the report, stated that the Special Tactical Squad (STS) and the locals had been deployed to the area to rescue the monarch and arrest the bandits.
In a related development, 15 persons have been confirmed killed by bandits in Magami village of Shiroro Local Council of Niger State of Nigeria.
Co-convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths, Yusuf Kokki, who confirmed the development, explained that the incident took place on Thursday and that local vigilantes and hunters engaged the bandits.
Also, gunmen abducted the wife and two children of Katsina State House of Assembly member, Dr. Ibrahim Kurami, on Saturday night at his village of Kurami in Bakori Local Council.
This is even as Secretary to the Katsina State Government (SSG), Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, confirmed abduction of his 78-year-old brother, Kabir, by bandits.
In a related development, gunmen have kidnapped a 60-year-old traditional title holder, Alh. Kabiru Ahmad and set a police vehicle ablaze in Taura local Government area of Jigawa State.
A resident, who preferred anonymity said that the victim who is holding a title of Wali of Taura was kidnapped yesterday around 3:00am.
