The recent abduction of students in Kaduna State by bandits has been strongly condemned by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The children’s charity emphasized the urgent need for decisive action from all levels of government and society in response to the disturbingly frequent occurrences of such incidents across the country.
In a statement on Friday, Cristian Munduate, the UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, conveyed the organization’s coordination with local authorities and provision of assistance to affected parents and families through psychological support services.
The abduction took place on Thursday morning when bandits, firing sporadically, kidnapped over 280 pupils and teachers from the Government Secondary School and LEA primary school at Kuriga, Kaduna State. Munduate expressed deep sadness and concern over the reports, emphasizing that schools should be places of learning and growth, not environments marred by fear and violence.
She added, “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, where armed groups have intensified their campaign of violence and kidnappings. Just a day before this incident, the UN Resident Coordinator spoke about the abductions of large numbers of women, girls, and boys by members of a non-state armed group in Borno state.”
UNICEF also urged immediate action to ensure the safe return of the abducted children and staff and called on authorities to implement comprehensive measures to secure schools across Nigeria.
Munduate said it was imperative that the safety and security of students and educators are guaranteed, allowing schools to fulfil their role as safe havens for learning and development.
She explained that the right to education is fundamental and must be protected against any form of violence or intimidation.
“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,” she emphasized.
She said 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.
Every child, she said deserves to grow up in an environment of peace, away from the looming shadows of threats and insecurity, lamenting that unfortunately, Nigerians are currently facing a significant deterioration in community safety, with children disproportionately suffering the consequences of this decline in security.
