ABUJA – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a strong condemnation of a deadly attack on a Government Girls School in Kebbi State, which resulted in the killing of the school’s vice-principal and the reported abduction of at least 25 students.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the UN agency demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted girls, labeling the assault a grave violation of international law and children’s fundamental rights.
The attack on the school in the Maga community is the latest incident highlighting the persistent insecurity threatening education in northern Nigeria. UNICEF’s Communication Specialist in Nigeria, Sussan Akila, described the event as “yet another stark reminder of the urgent need to protect children, schools, and the personnel they rely upon to learn safely.”
The agency expressed solidarity with the affected community, stating, “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.”
In its statement, UNICEF underscored the legal obligations to safeguard educational institutions. “Students, education facilities, and their personnel should be protected under international law from any form of attack, and those responsible must be held to account in accordance with national and international standards,” Akila emphasized.
The organization also reminded Nigerian authorities of their commitment to the Safe Schools Declaration, an international agreement endorsed by the country in 2015 designed to protect learning environments from violence and ensure safe access to education, particularly during conflicts.
Call for intensified efforts to fully implement the declaration and strengthen national child protection systems was a central part of UNICEF’s message. The agency reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with government partners, civil society, and local communities to enhance school safety, insisting that “no child should be put at risk while pursuing an education.”
