The United Nations Children’s Fund has called on the Federal and Borno State governments to intensify efforts to secure the release of 78 schoolchildren abducted in Askira/Uba Local Government Area.
The children were taken in two separate attacks. On May 16, suspected Boko Haram terrorists abducted 42 pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School, while another attack on Government Day Secondary School in Lassa on June 29 led to the abduction of 36 students and one teacher.
UNICEF Nigeria Deputy Representative, Dr Rownak Khan, said the organisation remained deeply concerned about the continued abduction of children, stressing that schools should be safe environments where children can learn and develop.
She said UNICEF was working with the Borno State Government on safe-school measures and called on all stakeholders to help secure the victims’ return.
Khan also assured that once the children are released, UNICEF would support the government with psychosocial care, nutrition, healthcare and reintegration programmes.
She stressed that protecting children and ensuring their safe return remained primarily the responsibility of the Nigerian government.
