HURIWA Gives Tinubu 24-Hour Ultimatum To Rescue Abducted Oyo Pupils,Teachers

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, demanding the immediate rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State.

The group warned that failure to secure the release of the victims within the deadline would amount to a breach of the federal government’s constitutional duty to protect lives and property.

The victims were abducted on May 16, 2026, when armed men attacked school communities along the Ahoro-Esinle axis in Oriire Local Government Area, taking away pupils and teachers in a coordinated raid that triggered panic across the state.

Security sources confirmed that dozens of pupils and several teachers were whisked away during the attack. More than two weeks after the incident, they remain in captivity despite ongoing search-and-rescue operations.

In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA expressed concern over what it described as the prolonged delay in securing the victims’ release.

“It is sad that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was shown during the last Sallah holiday enjoying the religious ceremony with his equally happy grandchildren, but it is timely to remind the President that the Oyo State children held in bondage are our own children and kinsmen,” the group stated.

HURIWA said every additional day the victims remain in captivity deepens the national tragedy and raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s security response.

The association insisted that the President, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, must ensure the immediate and safe release of all abducted pupils and teachers within 24 hours.

“The continued captivity of these victims raises profound questions about the effectiveness of the nation’s security response and the government’s ability to fulfil its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property,” the statement added.

Citing Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, the group stressed that the security and welfare of citizens remain the primary purpose of government, warning that no administration can claim legitimacy while children remain in kidnappers’ custody.

HURIWA also backed ongoing protests by teachers, parents and civil society groups in Ibadan, describing them as a legitimate response to the situation.

It, however, criticised what it called the weak response of labour and professional bodies, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), urging them to intensify pressure for urgent action.

“The abduction of schoolchildren is an attack on education and the future of Nigeria,” HURIWA said, calling for sustained nationwide advocacy until the victims are freed.

Meanwhile, security agencies have continued search-and-rescue operations, while families of the abducted pupils and teachers remain anxious over their fate.