The United Nations Economic and Social Council UNESC Nigeria “condemns in the strongest possible terms the abductions of 27 students on Wednesday from Government Science Secondary School Kagara at around 2am on Wednesday morning in Niger State, calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all children and their return to their families,” said H.E Amb. Dr. Blessing Gozi-AnyaokeiUNESC Nigeria total Chairman.
She added that UNESC was deeply concerned about these acts of violence, considering that attacks on schools are a violation of children’s rights. However, she said UNESC Nigeria acknowledges the efforts by the Government of Nigeria in undertaking all possible efforts for the safe return of the missing children.
OBSERVERS TIMES recall that Heavily armed gunmen dressed in military uniforms overran the all-boys Government Science College (GSC) in Kagara Town, Niger state, between Tuesday night to Wednesday morning, killing at least one student.
The attack is thought to have been carried out by suspected armed groups known as “bandits” that have terrorised north-west and central Nigeria in recent years. The groups have launched marauding attacks from forest havens which span across north-west Nigeria into neighbouring Niger, terrorising vulnerable rural communities left helpless by a dearth of security.
Killings, sexual violence and mass kidnappings for ransom have risen sharply, including on schools.
The state governor on Wednesday ordered the closure of all boarding schools in areas at risk from bandit attacks.
A spokesperson for the Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, who is increasingly vilified for rising insecurity forcing him to recently replace all the armed forces chiefs, said: “Our prayers are with the families of the victims of this attack. Following these reports, the president has directed the armed forces and police to ensure immediate and safe return of all the captives.”
The attack in Niger follows a similar attack in December when about 300 schoolboys were abducted in Katsina, north-west Nigeria, sparking outrage at rising insecurity in recent years. The boys were later released, while the government denied widespread reports that the gunmen, who were associated with Boko Haram, were paid a ransom.
The frequency and ease with which armed groups have staged attacks in north-west Nigeria have caused growing dismay. Despite several air raids and army operations, the groups remain a potent threat in many parts of northern Nigeria. Some local governments have signed controversial and obscure “peace deals” with the groups, with some admitting to having paid or offered assistance to insurgents. Yet attacks have remained commonplace.
Earlier this month, bandits abducted more than 20 passengers from a bus in the town of Zungeru, 50km from where the schoolboys were taken on Wednesday.
In recent years, attacks have also increased over Nigeria’s porous border with Niger, with refugees fleeing further and further into the country.