UNICEF Condemns Kebbi School Attack, Presses FG for Swift Rescue of Abducted Girls

UNICEF has called on the Nigerian government to secure the immediate release of the 25 schoolgirls kidnapped in Kebbi State and to urgently enforce the 2015 Safe Schools Declaration, following a fresh attack that claimed the life of a school vice-principal.

The appeal comes after gunmen stormed a Government Girls School in the Maga community of Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area on Monday, killing the vice-principal and abducting the students. The incident has once again heightened concerns over continued assaults on schools in the Northwest.

In a statement issued by Sussan Akila, Communication Specialist for UNICEF Nigeria, the agency condemned the attack, describing it as a painful reminder of the need to protect children, educators, and learning environments. Akila expressed sympathy to the affected families, offering condolences to those who lost loved ones and wishing speedy recovery to the injured.

UNICEF urged that the abducted students be rescued without delay and stressed that schools and their personnel are protected under international law. Akila noted that perpetrators must face justice in line with national and international standards.

Recalling Nigeria’s endorsement of the Safe Schools Declaration in 2015, she emphasized the importance of fully implementing the commitment, which outlines measures to safeguard educational institutions in conflict situations. She added that UNICEF is working with authorities and communities to strengthen safety systems and ensure that learning spaces are secure.

The statement reiterated that no child should face danger while seeking an education. The Safe Schools Declaration, endorsed by 121 countries as of Tuesday, aims to shield students, teachers, and institutions from the impact of armed conflict. Nigeria signed the declaration in May 2015.

In April 2021, the House of Representatives moved to investigate the alleged neglect of the Federal Government’s Safe School Initiative, including the N500 million earmarked for rehabilitating Government Secondary School, Chibok, the site of the 2014 Boko Haram abduction. Months later, then-Senate President Ahmad Lawan said the initiative appeared structured to fail.