“No child should be put at risk while pursuing their education” UNICEF emphasized, highlighting that classrooms must remain safe environments and not places of fear.
Local reports indicate that one kidnapped schoolgirl escaped and is safe, while another student not taken also fled during the incident.
At the daily press briefing in New York, UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq urged the rapid release of all abductees.
UNICEF expressed condolences to affected families, showed solidarity with the community, and wished full recovery to the injured.
Call for protection
The agency stressed the need to protect students, teachers, and educational institutions from violence, aligning with international humanitarian and human rights law. It insisted on accountability for those responsible, according to national and international standards.
Nigeria endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration in 2015, committing to protect the civilian nature of educational institutions and ensuring safe access to learning during conflict.
The Declaration, introduced at the first International Conference on Safe Schools in Oslo, Norway, aims to reduce attacks on education and safeguard learning environments globally.
UNICEF stated it continues to work closely with government partners, civil society, and communities to reinforce child protection systems and promote safe and inclusive learning spaces nationwide, stressing that stronger safeguards can help prevent future tragedies.
Kidnappings hinder learning
School attacks and student kidnappings remain major learning obstacles in Nigeria. A UNICEF report released last year marking 10 years since the notorious Chibok kidnappings highlighted that only 37 percent of schools in 10 states have early warning systems to detect threats, such as violence and armed attacks.
The Minimum Safe School Standards (MSSS) monitoring report revealed significant safety disparities in six key areas: school governance, violence prevention, natural hazards, conflicts, everyday risks, and security infrastructure.
The findings underscored that ensuring all Nigerian children can learn without fear remains an urgent and incomplete task.
UNICEF reiterated that education is a fundamental right and insisted on prioritizing the protection of children, teachers, and school infrastructure both nationally and globally.
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