Ibb — Human rights organizations and local activists have reported the enforced disappearance of 99 civilians in Yemen’s central Ibb province over the past nine months, allegedly carried out by Houthi militias. 

The alarming figure includes 67 educational professionals, making up nearly two-thirds of the victims.

According to sources within civil society groups, the disappearances began in early 2025 and have intensified in recent months, targeting teachers, school administrators, and education ministry employees. 

Witnesses say many were taken from their homes or workplaces without legal warrants or formal charges, and their whereabouts remain unknown.

Activists warn that the targeting of educators reflects a broader strategy by the Houthis to suppress dissent and control ideological narratives within schools. 

Families of the disappeared have staged protests and submitted appeals to humanitarian organizations, demanding urgent intervention and accountability.

“The systematic abduction of educators is not only a violation of human rights, but a direct assault on Yemen’s future,” said a spokesperson for the Yemeni Teachers Syndicate. 

“These individuals are the backbone of our society, and their disappearance leaves a devastating void.”

International watchdogs have called on the United Nations and regional powers to pressure the Houthis to disclose the fate of the missing and release them immediately. 

The incident adds to a growing list of human rights violations attributed to the group, which controls large swaths of northern and central Yemen.

The Yemeni government has yet to issue an official statement on the matter, though sources suggest internal discussions are underway to document the cases and raise them at international forums.