The United Nations (UN) has denounced the Friday kidnapping of hundreds of students and staff from Niger State’s St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools.
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric called the attack “heartbreaking” and stressed that “schools must be safe places for learning.”
This event follows a similar kidnapping in Kebbi State.
According to the Christian Association of Nigeria, gunmen abducted 215 children and 12 teachers from a school in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, Niger State.
“We have witnessed yet another abduction of pupils in Niger State, just days after the kidnapping of schoolchildren in Kebbi,” Dujarric said.
On Monday, armed men attacked the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, abducting at least 25 pupils and killing a teacher.
“We join UNICEF and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mohamed Malick Fall, in expressing deep sympathy to the families and communities affected.
“Every effort must now focus on ensuring the children’s safe and immediate return,” Dujarric added.
He emphasized that the recurrent attacks highlight the critical need to fully implement the Safe Schools Declaration, which specifies concrete methods to secure schools and universities while ensuring students’ access to education during war.
Following the kidnapping, the Nigerian News Agency says that the Federal Government has declared the closure of 41 Federal Unity Colleges.
The Federal Ministry of Education stated in a circular issued on Friday that this decision reacts to recent security difficulties and tries to avoid future intrusions.
