The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations that the ₦145 billion Safe Schools Initiative funds are missing, mismanaged, or diverted.
In a statement on Thursday, SERAP lamented that over 600 pupils and teachers have reportedly been abducted in school-related attacks across Nigeria between March 2024 and May 2026, despite the Federal Government’s ₦145 billion Safe Schools Initiative.
It stated that anyone found responsible should be brought to justice, and any missing funds fully recovered.
SERAP pointed out that the recent abduction of dozens of students and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State demonstrated that Nigerian schools remain dangerously exposed to criminal attacks despite the billions of naira reportedly allocated to protect them.
It urged President Bola Tinubu and Oyo state governor , Seyi Makinde to urgently ensure the safe release and return of the abducted students and teachers adding that the abductors must be arrested and brought to justice and the victims and their families must be provided with access to justice and effective remedies.
The statement read in part; “Authorities must act urgently to ensure accountability and prevent further attacks on children and educators.
“The reported abductions raise serious questions about the effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of the Safe Schools Initiative. Allegations that funds intended to protect Nigerian children may have been mismanaged must be urgently, thoroughly, independently and effectively investigated and the findings of any investigation should be widely published.
“Corruption in education security puts lives at risk, undermines every child’s right to education, and disproportionately affects poor and vulnerable communities.
“Nigerian authorities have constitutional and international legal obligations to protect children from abduction, violence, and other human rights abuses.
“The Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] imposes a clear duty on Nigerian authorities to protect the lives, safety, and welfare of all persons. Section 14(2)(b) provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government, while Section 33 guarantees the right to life and requires authorities to take reasonable measures to protect individuals from threats to their lives and security.
“The Nigerian Constitution also guarantees the dignity of the human person under Section 34 and obliges governments at all levels to direct their policies toward ensuring adequate educational opportunities.
“These provisions require authorities to take effective steps to protect students, teachers, and educational institutions from violence, abductions, and other threats that undermine access to education and the enjoyment of fundamental rights.
“We’ll see Nigerian authorities in court if the recommended measures are not immediately implemented”.
