Following the most recent school attack that resulted in the death of a vice-principal, UNICEF on Tuesday called on the Nigerian government to guarantee the prompt release of the 25 schoolgirls kidnapped in Kebbi State and to fully implement the 2015 Safe Schools Declaration.
The call came after gunmen killed the vice-principal and kidnapped the kids at a Government Girls School in the Maga town of Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area on Monday. This incident raised new concerns about ongoing attacks on schools in the Northwest.
UNICEF Nigeria denounced the incident in a statement released by Sussan Akila, the organization’s communication specialist.
“UNICEF strongly condemns the reported attack on a Government Girls School in the Maga community of Kebbi State, which resulted in the abduction of 25 students and the death of the school’s Vice-Principal,” Akila stated. This terrible event serves as yet another sobering reminder of how critical it is to safeguard kids, schools, and the staff they depend on to learn in a secure environment.
“We stand with the affected community at this difficult time; our heartfelt condolences go to those who have lost their loved ones, and we wish a full recovery for those injured,” Akila said in an expression of compassion.
“UNICEF further urges the swift release of the abducted children,” she stated in reference to the kidnapping.
Akila also emphasized the responsibility to protect learning environments.
“Under international law, students, educational facilities, and their staff should be protected from any form of attack, and those responsible must be held accountable in accordance with national and international standards,” she stated.
“In 2015, the Nigerian government endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration, which outlines concrete steps to safeguard the civilian nature of schools and universities to ensure safe access of students to education during conflict,” she said, citing Nigeria’s 2015 pledge.
She called for complete execution.
According to Akila, UNICEF is collaborating with communities and authorities to enhance child protection and foster safe learning settings.
To stop disasters in the future, these settings and mechanisms need to be strengthened.
The statement went on, “No child should be put at risk while pursuing an education.”
An intergovernmental political pledge to shield kids, educators, schools, and universities from the worst consequences of armed conflict is known as the Safe Schools Declaration.
The SSD website said on Tuesday that it has been approved by 121 states, including Nigeria in May 2015.
The House of Representatives decided in April 2021 to look into the alleged abandonment of the Federal Government’s Safe School Initiative, particularly the N500 million allotted to the rehabilitation of the Government Secondary School Chibok, Borno State, where more than 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped by Boko Haram.
Ahmad Lawan, the Senate’s president at the time, declared in October that the federal government’s Safe School Initiative was intended to fail.
