June 5 (THEWILL) — The United Nations (UN) has condemned the abduction of students and teachers by armed groups in Nigeria and called for urgent measures to strengthen school security across the country, insisting that children should never become targets of violence.
The appeal was made by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Malick Fall, during a meeting in Abuja with a delegation from the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre (NSSRCC), led by its Commandant, Samuel Umanah.
The discussions centred on recent school abductions and ongoing efforts aimed at supporting affected families, educational institutions and communities in Oyo and Borno states.
Expressing deep concern over the continued captivity of the victims, Fall condemned the attacks and lamented the deaths of two teachers during the incidents, describing the development as disturbing and unacceptable.
He warned that the recurring attacks on schools reflect increasing threats confronting children, educators and learning environments across the country, stressing that such incidents continue to undermine access to education and expose vulnerable communities to fear and instability.
According to him, protecting children’s right to access education in a safe and dignified environment must remain a top national priority.
“We are deeply saddened that these school children and their teachers are still being held by armed groups. Schools must remain safe havens for learning and not places of fear. Children should never be a target. These incidents underscore the urgent need to strengthen the protection of children, educators and learning spaces”, Fall said.
The UN official called on authorities to intensify efforts toward securing the immediate and safe release of all abducted students and teachers while ensuring adequate support for affected families and communities.
He also urged the government to fully implement the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools, strengthen emergency response systems and adopt data-driven strategies to improve security around educational institutions.
Fall acknowledged ongoing efforts by government authorities and security agencies to address the security challenges but insisted that more coordinated actions were needed to prevent future attacks.
He further urged authorities to bring perpetrators of the attacks to justice and strengthen safeguards to ensure schools remain secure environments for learning.
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