BY WILLIAM ATTAH, GOMBE – The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), has called on the Nigerian Government to take all necessary measures to protect schools in the country so as to make learning more secure for children.
UNICEF said its call has become imperative following the highly risky schooling environment for children in the country due to the persistent abduction of children from their schools.
It specifically reminded Federal Government of its promise to implement the Financing Safe Schools in Nigeria Conference in April this year which will enable children go to schools without fear while parents will also not be afraid of sending their children to schools.
A statement by Rushnan Murtaza, Officer in Charge, Representative UNICEF Nigeria, also called for the immediate and unconditional release of the 150 abducted children of Salihu Tanko Islamiya School in Tegina, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.
The UN organisation expressed deep concern over the fate of the children some of which it noted are as young as three years old.
According to Murtaza; “UNICEF is appalled that two weeks after their kidnap from school, the children are still under their captors.
“We can only begin to imagine how frightened they are and the impact this will have on their mental health and wellbeing.
“Parents are grieving their children’s disappearance, siblings are missing their brothers and sisters, these children must be immediately and unconditionally released and safely reunited with their families,” UNICEF said.
It stressed that attacks on students and schools are not only reprehensible but a gross violation of the rights of children to an education.
UNICEF further said; “It is a right that any society can ill afford to violate. Schools must be safe places to study and develop and learning should not be a risky endeavour.
“There are very few, if any, things more important for any society than ensuring safe education of its children”.
