UN Warns Nigerian Schools Must Be Sanctuaries, Not Targets

A young girl writes on a chalkboard at a primary school in Nigeria.

The UN Deputy Secretary-General expressed deep alarm on Saturday over the latest mass abduction from a school in Nigeria, calling for the immediate release of those taken.

It was initially reported that 215 pupils had been kidnapped from St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State, early on Friday morning, but the figure was later revised to 303 students and 12 teachers, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria.

The association’s chair, who reportedly visited the school on Friday, said more than 80 students had been seized after attempting to flee during the attack by armed assailants. The abducted children, both boys and girls, are aged between 10 and 18.

Second Mass Abduction This Week

The number taken from the Catholic school surpasses the 276 girls abducted in the notorious Chibok attack in 2014. It is the latest in a series of mass kidnappings, including another incident earlier this week in which 25 pupils were taken from a school in Kebbi State.

No group has yet claimed responsibility, and authorities have deployed security forces to locate the students and their captors. Niger State has reportedly closed all schools until further notice.

Perpetrators Must Be Held Accountable

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed — a former Nigerian environment minister — said on social media that schools must be “sanctuaries for education, not targets. We must protect schools and hold perpetrators accountable.”

The UN’s top official in the country, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mohamed Fall, said the news was heartbreaking, coming just days after the Kebbi kidnappings. He extended his sympathies to the families and communities affected, urging all possible efforts to ensure the safe return of students and staff.

“It’s time to fully implement the Safe School Principles,” he said, referring to a framework launched at the First International Conference on Safe Schools in Oslo, Norway, in 2015. Nigeria endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration that same year.

Stand With the Victims

UNICEF said this week that it continues to work closely with government partners, civil society, and communities to strengthen child protection systems in line with the declaration that no child should be put at risk while pursuing an education.

UNESCO’s office in Nigeria also condemned the latest abduction, reiterating that schools must never be targets. “We stand with the victims, their families, and the Government of Nigeria, and call for the immediate release of all abducted children,” the agency said.