Damasak children: Nigerian government urged to help 300 children abducted by Boko Haram over a year ago

Human rights activists have called on the Nigerian government to take action as more than a year has passed since 300 children were abducted by Boko Haram.

The militant group captured the children during a raid on an elementary school last year in Damasak and the children have not been returned since. A leading human rights group has called on the Nigerian government to speak out against the abduction, claiming that authorities "haven’t said a word" on the issue so far.

Boko Haram conducted the raid in the trading town of Damasak, which is close to Niger’s border, on 24 November 2014. Eye witnesses said armed men began sealing off roads and trapping residents, teachers and pupils. They then proceeded to shut school gates and lock doors to the premises. It is claimed that while being held there, the militants have been forcing their captives to learn the Koran. A number have reportedly died after ingesting putrid food, which resulted in severe diarrhea and vomitting. People who attempted to escape were reportedly shot dead.

One teacher, who escaped for a short period but was recaptured and returned alive to the school said: “I was held captive by Boko Haram for at least six days… Corpses were on the street. They forced us to carry the corpses and go dispose of them in the river and there is nothing one could do about it.” Another man who escaped after swimming across a river said: “Those that were able to swim escaped and those that couldn’t held on to the grass, and they were shot.”

Boko Haram is a terror group dedicated to establishing a state on Islamic fundamentalist lines, which has killed thousands of civilians and abducted thousands more, many of whom are children. One of the group’s core aims is opposing what it considers ‘Western education’ and take its name from the Hausa language for ‘Western education is forbidden’.

Human rights activists have said that while other cases have received international attention, such as an abduction at Chibok which sparked the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, the Damasak abduction has been largely ignored or forgotten by the international community.

Mausi Segun, Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch said: “Three hundred children have been missing for a year, and yet there as not been a word from the Nigerian government. The authorities need to wake up and find out where the Damasak children and other captives are and take urgent steps to free them.

“Whatever its grievances against the Nigerian government, Boko Haram cannot justify the abduction of young children. Boko Haram leaders should immediately release everyone the group has abducted, cease all attacks on civilians, and stop using schools in support of its military efforts.”