The United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) and the Federal Ministry of Education have intensified calls for immediate action to ensure the safe return of more than 280 pupils and teachers abducted by bandits in Kuriga, Kaduna State.
The calls were contained in separate statements by UNICEF and the ministry.
The UN child welfare agency also urged the authorities “to implement comprehensive measures to secure schools across Nigeria”
The attacks which occurred on Thursday morning, March 7, resulted in the tragic death of a member of the Kaduna State Vigilante Service (KADVS) and left the community, triggering national outrage.
Expressing sympathies to affected families, Cristian Munduate, UNICEF’s Representative in Nigeria, said the right to education is fundamental and must be protected against any form of violence or intimidation.
“The children of Nigeria deserve to learn in peace.”
The statement disclosed plans to partner with local officials and provide assistance to the affected parents and families through psychological support services.
“The UN Children’s Agency is dedicated to collaborating with government entities, local communities, and various partners to tackle the fundamental issues leading to violence against children and to safeguard educational environments from threats and violence,” it said.
Parts of the statement read; “Every child deserves to grow up in an environment of peace, away from the looming shadows of threats and insecurity. Unfortunately, we are currently facing a significant deterioration in community safety, with children disproportionately suffering the consequences of this decline in security.
“I am deeply saddened and concerned by the reports of yet another abduction of students in Kaduna State. The alarming frequency of such incidents across the country signals a crisis that requires immediate and determined action from all levels of government and society.”
“This latest abduction, as any previously, is highly condemnable and part of a worrying trend of attacks on educational institutions in Nigeria, particularly in the northwest.
“Our hearts go out to the families of the abducted students and staff, and we stand with them in this harrowing time.”
Also, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, expressed his deep concern and shock over the incident, describing it as “disturbing” and “unfortunate”.
“In light of this unfortunate circumstance, the ministry appeals earnestly to the security agencies, as well as the government of Kaduna State, to mobilise all available resources to rescue and reunite the kidnapped students and teachers with their families,” the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, said in a statement.
The incident is the latest in a series of mass abductions of students and teachers from schools in northern Nigeria, where insecurity and banditry have been rampant.
In February 2021, gunmen kidnapped 279 girls from a boarding school in Zamfara State and released them after negotiations with the state government.
In December 2020, more than 300 boys were abducted from a school in Katsina State and freed after a week following the intervention of security forces and local vigilantes.
The most notorious case was in 2014 when Boko Haram militants kidnapped 276 girls from a school in Chibok, Borno State. More than 100 of them are still missing.
These abductions have raised concerns about the safety of schools and the impact on education in the region, where many children are already out of school due to poverty, conflict, and cultural barriers.
The federal government has launched a Safe Schools Initiative to protect schools from attacks and provide a conducive learning environment for students and teachers.
However, the initiative has faced challenges in implementation and funding and has not been able to prevent recurring abductions.
