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Nigeria: 10 Years after Chibok, Schoolchildren Still at Risk – HRW
Nigeria: 10 Years after Chibok, Schoolchildren Still at Risk – HRW
…Urges Government To Implement Safe Schools Plan to Protect Schools, Children
By: Our Reporter
Ten years after the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Nigerian authorities have failed to put in place and sustain crucial measures to provide a secure learning environment for every child, Human Rights Watch said today.
Since 2014, according to Save the Children, more than 1,600 children have been abducted or kidnapped across northern Nigeria. In the northeast, the armed conflict between Boko Haram and Nigerian armed forces continues to take its toll and, in the northwest, criminal groups commonly called bandits are terrorizing communities. During February and March 2024 alone, bandits kidnapped over 200 children from their schools in Kaduna and Sokoto states.
“For many children across northern Nigeria, the pursuit of an education means facing the constant threat of abduction or kidnapping,” said Anietie Ewang, Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Children should never face the harrowing dilemma of sacrificing their safety for education, but this untenable choice, which echoes the profound insecurity plaguing the country, is thrust upon them daily.”
On April 14, 2014, Boko Haram, an Islamist armed group, abducted 276 girls from their school in Chibok, a town in northeastern Borno state, sparking global outrage. Although some of the girls escaped, or were released or rescued, 96 remain in captivity according to UNICEF, and civil society groups continue to pressure the government to ensure they are rescued. Boko Haram, known for its opposition to education, has carried out other such abductions, including one of 110 girls from a school in Dapchi, a town in Yobe state, in 2018.
In addition to kidnappings by Boko Haram in the northeast, the ongoing banditry crisis in the northwest has in recent years made that area a hub for criminal kidnapping for ransom. The crisis emerged after years of conflict between herders and farmers, giving rise to the criminal groups, which have carried out widespread killings, looting, extortion, and kidnapping for ransom in mostly rural communities.
Between December 2020 and February 2021, a series of high-profile incidents, including the abduction of over 600 schoolchildren across Zamfara, Katsina, and Niger states, thrust the kidnapping issue into the spotlight.
In the aftermath of Chibok, the Nigerian government endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration, an international political commitment to protect education from attack and schools from military use which turns them into targets. The government also adopted a Safe School Initiative for Nigeria with the support of the global community and Nigerian business leaders. The initiative aimed to raise funds with an initial US$10 million pledge to help make schools safer, including by moving them to safer areas and creating a safe school model for schools across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, the three states worst hit by the Boko Haram insurgency.
However, the multi-stakeholder initiative faced problems, and there has been a decline in momentum over the years with little or no progress made in fortifying schools, Human Rights Watch said. In 2021, Nigeria’s then-Senate president Ahmad Lawan, following an investigation into the utilization of the funds for the initiative, declared that it was designed to fail without a National Policy and Strategy for the Safe School Initiative and the leadership of the Federal Education Ministry. In the meantime, communities continue to suffer the brunt of bandit attacks and schoolchildren remain vulnerable prey.
A Chibok girl who was in Boko Haram captivity for over two years, and was released with 20 others, told Human Rights Watch that news of school kidnappings brings back memories of her ordeal. “Whenever I hear that more children have been kidnapped, I feel terrible, helpless,” she said. “We are still not safe … It brings back memories of what happened to me. I can never forget being snatched from my parents, my family for so long. I pray this is not the case for those that are kidnapped.” She is now a 28-year-old university student studying natural and environmental sciences.
Kemi Okenyodo, an expert in security and governance and the executive director of the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative in Abuja, told Human Rights Watch that the ongoing school kidnappings, resembling those in Chibok a decade ago, highlight a failure to learn from past experiences, as they are taking place without adequate security infrastructure or intervention from authorities to prevent dozens or hundreds of children being snatched away at once.
Amid the heightened threat of attacks on schools, many have been forced to shut down completely, with more than 20 million children out of school in Nigeria, according to UNESCO, among the highest number in any country in the world. According to UNICEF, 66 percent of out-of-school children in Nigeria are from the northeast and northwest, which are among the poorest regions in the country.
For girls especially, the challenges are double edged. They risk rape and other forms of sexual violence if kidnapped, and if kept out of school, they risk child marriage, which is a common practice in these regions.
In 2021, the government adopted the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence Free Schools aimed at improving school security, strengthening the capabilities of security agents to respond to threats, and ensuring that education continues for children displaced by conflict and crisis, among other reasons.
The authorities committed to investing 144.8 billion naira (about $314.5 million at the time) over a certain period to finance this initiative. In 2023, they announced that 15 billion naira (about $24 million at the time) had been earmarked to pilot the initiative in 18 high-risk states and 48 schools. However, details of the implementation are sparse, and it remains unclear the extent to which this has been done.
Okenyodo told Human Rights Watch that the government needs to involve communities in designing and implementing initiatives to make schools safer to create a sense of ownership and reduce inefficiency and corruption.
“Now more than ever, the Nigerian authorities should step up efforts to make learning safe for children,” Ewang said. “They should work with communities to adopt rights-respecting measures and put in place adequate financing, systems, and structures to ensure quick, effective, and transparent implementation to ensure that children can learn without being exposed to grave harm.”
Nigeria: 10 Years after Chibok, Schoolchildren Still at Risk – HRW
Nigeria Moves to Reinforce Global Diplomatic Presence with Deployment of 25 Ambassadors
By: Michael Mike
Nigeria is poised to deepen its diplomatic footprint worldwide as the Federal Government concludes arrangements to deploy a new batch of 25 ambassadors to strategic missions abroad, marking a significant step in the country’s renewed foreign policy drive.
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja while briefing journalists on key developments within the ministry and Nigeria’s ongoing diplomatic engagements.
He revealed that the process has advanced considerably, with the government already securing over 25 formal acceptances—known in diplomatic circles as agrément—from host countries. The approvals signal that the receiving nations have completed due diligence and formally consented to the appointment of Nigeria’s nominees.
Describing the development as a critical milestone, Ebienfa announced that a high-level induction programme for the envoys has been scheduled to hold from April 26 to 29, 2026. He said the exercise would serve as a strategic orientation platform, preparing the ambassadors for the complex demands of representing Nigeria’s interests abroad.
“We have received more than 25 agreements from countries where ambassador-designates have been sent. With the induction programme scheduled for later this month, deployment will commence immediately after the exercise,” he stated.
According to him, the induction will go beyond ceremonial briefings, focusing on the practical realities of modern diplomacy, including bilateral engagement strategies, conduct and protocol in host countries, economic diplomacy, and alignment with Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He added that, in line with diplomatic tradition, spouses of the envoys would also participate in aspects of the programme, reflecting their supportive role in representing the country’s image and values overseas.
While most of the ambassador-designates are expected to proceed to their duty posts immediately after the induction, Ebienfa noted that a few postings may still be subject to final administrative clearances.
He noted that even if any of the ambassador-designates is rejected by the country to which he or she is posted, there is still room for reassignment to another country.
The imminent deployment is seen as a decisive move by the Federal Government to revitalise Nigeria’s diplomatic architecture, strengthen bilateral and multilateral ties, and position the country more assertively on the global stage amid shifting geopolitical and economic realities.
Nigeria Moves to Reinforce Global Diplomatic Presence with Deployment of 25 Ambassadors
FG Cracks Down on Fake Ambassadors, Criminalises Unauthorised Use of Diplomatic Titles
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has moved decisively to protect the sanctity of Nigeria’s diplomatic system, declaring the unauthorised use of ambassadorial titles a criminal offence punishable under the law.
Raising alarm over what it described as a disturbing rise in impersonation and fraudulent conferment of diplomatic ranks, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the development has exposed the country to reputational risks and international embarrassment.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday, Ebienfa warned that only the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, possesses the constitutional authority to appoint and accredit ambassadors, stressing that any individual or group claiming otherwise is acting illegally.
He described as “worrisome” the activities of unscrupulous persons and organisations that confer ambassadorial titles on themselves or unsuspecting members of the public, often for financial gain or social influence.
According to him, such practices have no basis in Nigerian law or international diplomatic conventions and amount to outright impersonation.
“The Ministry has observed with grave concern the increasing trend of individuals usurping diplomatic titles and fraudulently presenting themselves as ambassadors. These actions are illegal and undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s foreign representation,” he said.
Ebienfa listed common violations to include the unauthorised use of titles such as “Ambassador” and “Diplomatic Envoy,” the issuance of fake diplomatic passports and identity cards, as well as the circulation of counterfeit vehicle plate numbers bearing official insignia.
He cautioned Nigerians against accepting such titles from unofficial bodies, warning that those who parade themselves as ambassadors based on such conferment are committing a criminal offence and risk prosecution.
In a key clarification, the ministry noted that while individuals may be appointed as brand ambassadors for commercial or promotional purposes, such recognition does not confer any legal or diplomatic status.
“Brand ambassadors remain what they are—representatives of products or services. They are not entitled to adopt or prefix the title ‘Ambassador’ to their names in a diplomatic sense,” he emphasised.
To enforce compliance, Ebienfa disclosed that the ministry is working closely with relevant security and regulatory agencies, including the Nigerian Immigration Service and the Federal Road Safety Corps, to identify, arrest, and prosecute offenders. The crackdown will also target the production and use of fake diplomatic documents and unauthorised number plates.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to preserving the integrity of Nigeria’s diplomatic service, warning that any act capable of misrepresenting the country on the global stage will not be tolerated.
“The Federal Government will continue to take firm actions against individuals or groups whose activities bring Nigeria into disrepute. The integrity of our diplomatic system is non-negotiable,” he said.
FG Cracks Down on Fake Ambassadors, Criminalises Unauthorised Use of Diplomatic Titles
News
Nigeria Accelerates Peace Reform Drive as Stakeholders Push for Adoption of National Peace Policy
Nigeria Accelerates Peace Reform Drive as Stakeholders Push for Adoption of National Peace Policy
By: Michael Mike
Nigeria has intensified efforts to establish a unified national framework for peacebuilding as top security and governance stakeholders convened in Abuja for the Second High-Level Expert Dialogue on the Draft National Peace Policy (NPP), aimed at overhauling the country’s fragmented conflict management system.
The dialogue, convened by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in partnership with the Office of Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE) and Triple Peace Africa, brought together policymakers, security experts, academics, civil society leaders, and development partners to refine and advance the proposed national framework.
Opening discussions, the Director-General of IPCR, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, said Nigeria’s worsening and interconnected security challenges make the adoption of a coherent peace policy both urgent and unavoidable.
He pointed to the persistence of insurgency in the Northeast, farmer-herder conflicts in the Northcentral, separatist tensions in the Southeast, and widespread banditry and kidnapping in the Northwest, warning that the cumulative impact of these crises continues to strain national cohesion.
According to him, the spread of small arms, coupled with weakening trust between communities and institutions, has further deepened insecurity and undermined local resilience mechanisms.
Ochogwu stressed that Nigeria can no longer depend on scattered and uncoordinated interventions, insisting that only a unified, evidence-driven framework can deliver sustainable peace outcomes.
“What we require now is a nationally owned system that coordinates all peacebuilding actors, eliminates duplication, and ensures that interventions are measurable, accountable, and impactful at community level,” he said.
He explained that the Draft National Peace Policy is the outcome of extensive nationwide consultations spanning all six geopolitical zones, incorporating input from traditional rulers, civil society organisations, academic experts, government institutions, and community stakeholders.
Describing the document as a strategic shift in approach, he said the policy is designed to reposition peacebuilding from reactive crisis response to a preventive and development-oriented system anchored on data, early warning, and institutional coordination.
A major gap the policy seeks to address, he noted, is the absence of a central coordinating structure for peace initiatives across the country, a situation he said has resulted in duplication of efforts, institutional competition, and inefficient use of resources.
The proposed framework, he added, will integrate peacebuilding into core sectors including security, justice, education, health, agriculture, and governance, ensuring a whole-of-government approach to conflict prevention and stability.
Ochogwu further highlighted that the policy aligns with global and regional frameworks such as the United Nations Sustaining Peace Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals—particularly SDG 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions—the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework.
He said this alignment reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to international best practices while positioning the country as a potential leader in structured peacebuilding across Africa.
Participants at the dialogue emphasised that the success of the policy will depend on strong political will, clear institutional roles, sustainable financing mechanisms, and effective coordination across all levels of government.
They warned that without decisive implementation structures, the policy risks becoming another well-crafted but inactive document.
Ochogwu urged stakeholders to take collective responsibility for the process, describing them as critical actors in shaping Nigeria’s peace architecture and cautioning against institutional silos that weaken national response systems.
He reaffirmed IPCR’s readiness to work with federal and state governments, peacebuilding agencies, civil society organisations, the private sector, and international partners to ensure the policy is finalised, adopted, and implemented without delay.
He maintained that Nigeria’s stability depends on deliberate and coordinated action, stressing that the time for policy adoption and implementation is now.
Analysts say the push for a National Peace Policy could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s conflict management strategy, shifting the country from reactive security responses to a more structured, preventive, and sustainable peace framework.
Nigeria Accelerates Peace Reform Drive as Stakeholders Push for Adoption of National Peace Policy
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