The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has applauded Nigeria’s security agencies for the successful rescue of the abducted pupils and staff of Oriire International School in Ibadan, Oyo State, while urging authorities to sustain efforts to secure the release of hundreds of other Nigerians still being held by kidnappers across the country.
The Commission warned against viewing the operation as an isolated success, saying the rescue should mark the beginning of renewed and intensified efforts to end the country’s growing kidnapping crisis.
Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, said the successful operation had brought hope and relief to the affected families but stressed that every Nigerian deserves equal protection and the right to live free from fear.
In a statement issued by the Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, Fatimah Mohammed, Ojukwu commended the coordinated efforts of the security agencies that led to the rescue, describing it as a significant achievement.
“Every life matters. The joy of one family reunited must become the standard for every family still waiting in anguish,” he said.
Ojukwu noted that despite the successful rescue, hundreds of Nigerians remain in captivity, while their families continue to endure uncertainty, emotional trauma and prolonged hardship.
“While we commend this rescue, we are reminded that hundreds of Nigerians are still missing, still suffering, and still hoping. The State has a duty to protect the right to life and personal liberty of every citizen under Sections 33 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution,” he stated.
The Commission described the abduction of schoolchildren, commuters and residents as serious violations of fundamental human rights, warning that the persistent wave of kidnappings continues to heighten fear and insecurity across the country.
It called on the Federal Government, security agencies and state governments to strengthen intelligence gathering, enhance inter-agency collaboration and adopt more victim-centred rescue strategies to ensure the safe return of all abducted persons.
“Rescuing one is commendable. Rescuing all is the mandate. No Nigerian should be left behind in captivity,” Ojukwu added.
The NHRC reaffirmed its commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of all persons in Nigeria and urged governments at all levels to intensify efforts to combat insecurity and safeguard the lives and liberties of citizens.
The Commission’s appeal comes amid persistent kidnapping incidents across several parts of the country, where armed groups have continued to target schools, highways and rural communities for ransom. Although security agencies have recorded notable successes in rescuing some victims, concerns remain over the increasing number of Nigerians still in captivity and the devastating psychological, social and economic impact of the crisis on affected families and communities.
