The United Nations has condemned the abduction of hundreds of school children and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Niger, warning that worsening insecurity continues to endanger education across the region. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said schools must remain safe spaces, describing the Niger attack, coming shortly after the Kebbi incident, as “heartbreaking.”
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed that 215 students and 12 teachers were seized in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area. The attack follows another incident in Kebbi earlier in the week, where armed men abducted at least 25 students and killed a teacher.
Dujarric said the UN stands with UNICEF and the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mohamed Malick Fall, in expressing sympathy to the affected families. He emphasised that these recurring attacks highlight the urgent need for full implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration, which outlines protections designed to preserve the civilian nature of educational institutions.
In response to rising insecurity, the Federal Government has ordered the closure of 41 Federal Unity Colleges. The Ministry of Education said the decision was necessary to prevent further breaches and safeguard students across the country.
The UN urged authorities to prioritise the immediate and safe return of the abducted children while addressing the broader insecurity threatening communities.
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