In Oyo State, gunmen reportedly abducted 46 people, including seven teachers and 39 students, killing one teacher and in Borno State 42 people, many who are children aged between two and five years old are also reported to have been abducted, both on Friday, 15 May. Verification of the total number of children and students is still underway.
Commenting on the attack Dr. Charles Usie, Country Director of Plan International Nigeria said;
“These attacks are grave violations of children’s rights to a safe education and highlight the growing insecurity affecting schools across Nigeria.
“They are deeply distressing and wholly unacceptable. No child should have to fear going to school, and no teacher should risk their life while educating children,”
“The Oyo State incident occurred on the same day that suspected non-state armed groups reportedly attacked schools in Borno State – where children as young as two have been reported missing.
We understand schools in the area have been temporarily closed and understandably there is a heightened sense of fear amongst children, parents and teachers in the affected communities.
These incidents form part of a recurring pattern of attacks on schools and mass abductions of students across Nigeria, including major cases recorded in Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara in recent years.
The repeated targeting of schools and children’s spaces threatens not only the safety and wellbeing of children, but also the future of communities and the next generation. Schools must remain places of learning, growth, and opportunity, not sites of violence and terror.
“We urge the government and security agencies to take urgent, decisive action to strengthen the protection of schools and ensure accountability for attacks on children and educational facilitators.
“These incidents underscore the urgent need for stronger implementation of existing school safety policies and commitments, including the Safe Schools Declaration. We must move beyond paper pledges to concrete action that protects children, teachers, and schools across the country.
Plan International calls upon the Federal Government, state governments, and security agencies for:
Immediate action to secure the safe release of abducted children, teachers, and school personnel
Stronger security and early warning systems around schools and vulnerable communities
Full implementation and adequate funding of the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools
Accelerated implementation of commitments under the Safe Schools Declaration
Psychosocial support and protection services for affected students, teachers, and families
Increased investment in long-term solutions that address the root causes of insecurity and attacks on education
Nigeria endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration in 2015, but repeated attacks show commitments must be matched by stronger implementation.
Plan International stands in solidarity with affected children, families, teachers, and communities during this difficult time and remains committed to advancing children’s rights and ensuring that every child can access safe, inclusive, and uninterrupted education.” he said
