Oyo Abduction: Man takes protest to UN Abuja office, calls for international intervention
Henry Shield, a critic of the President Bola Tinubu government, on Tuesday staged a one-man protest at the United Nations office in Abuja, calling for international intervention and rescue of the abducted Oyo schoolchildren.
Mr Shield posted a photo of himself standing in front of the UN building with a banner inscribed with “Our children should not sleep in kidnappers’ den.”
“Today, I had a one-man protest at the United Nations office, Abuja, where I submitted a letter of appeal for international support in rescuing our children currently in the captivity of kidnappers,” Mr Shield said.
“The world should not abandon us at this time. Every parent, every human, everyone must speak out. Our children must be brought back home, safe. Please lend your support.”
Mr Shield also addressed a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, calling for intensified intervention for the rescue of the abducted schoolchildren and staff.
“We write with profound anguish, outrage, and a deep sense of urgency concerning the abduction of school children and their teachers in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria, who have remained in captivity for an extended period under inhumane and degrading conditions,” the letter read in part.
“These innocent children, whose only ‘crime’ was pursuing an education, have been forced to endure harsh weather conditions, sleeping under the scorching sun and torrential rains while being held by armed criminals. Reports further indicate that one of the kidnapped teachers has been brutally murdered, highlighting the grave danger confronting the remaining victims,” he added.
According to him, the prolonged captivity of these children constitutes a serious violation of fundamental human rights and a direct assault on the rights of children as protected under international law, including the provisions of the United Nations Children’s Fund Convention on the Rights of the Child and other relevant international instruments.
Mr Shield’s one-man protest comes amid nationwide outrage over the abduction of 46 schoolchildren and staff in Esienle and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15.
For over two weeks, the victims have been held captive by their abductors.
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