The UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, expressed her concern and condemnation on Saturday for a recent mass kidnapping in Nigeria, where 303 students and twelve teachers were abducted from St. Mary’s school in the town of Papiri, Niger State. This incident occurs in a climate of increasing violence against educational institutions in the country, raising alarms both locally and internationally.
Initially, the disappearance of 215 students was reported, but subsequent figures provided by the Christian Association of Nigeria raised the number. Many of the students, aged between ten and 18 years old, were trying to escape the attack carried out by armed groups. This kidnapping, considered one of the most serious since the Chibok school attack in 2014, reflects a concerning trend in the growing insecurity facing Nigeria. Just days prior, 25 students from another school in Kebbi State were also kidnapped, leading authorities to close all schools in Niger State as a precautionary measure.
Mohammed stressed that schools should be “sanctuaries for education, not targets of attacks” and demanded accountability from the perpetrators of these violent acts. The UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, described the situation as “heartbreaking,” emphasizing the need to ensure the safe return of the students and educational staff.
UNICEF and UNESCO’s office in Nigeria have also condemned these acts, reaffirming their commitment to work with governments and communities to protect children. Both agencies have called for the immediate release of all those kidnapped and the effective implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration, established in 2015 to protect educational institutions from attacks.
via: MiMub in Spanish