UN chief condemns attack on school in Nigeria

The United Nations Secretary-General has strongly condemned Wednesdays attack on a boarding school in north-central Nigeriain which one student was killed and several students, as well as relatives and staff, abducted.According to reports, gunmen stormed the Government Science College Kagara, in the Niger state of Nigeria, at around 2 am local time. Many students are also said to be unaccounted for, though the number is unclear and the information has yet to be confirmed.In anoteissued by his spokesperson on Wednesday,Secretary-General Antnio Guterresreiterated that attacks on schools and other educational facilities are abhorrent and unacceptable.The UN chief called on Nigerian authorities to spare no efforts in rescuing those abducted and holding to account those responsible for this act, the statement added.Attacks a violation of childrens rightsThe UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) alsodenouncedthe attack in the strongest possible terms and called for the immediate and unconditional release of any children who may be missing, and their safe return to their families.Attacks on schools are a violation of childrens rights. Children should feel safe at home and at school at all timesand parents should not need to worry for the safety of their children when they send them off to school in the morning, Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Nigeria Representative, said in statement.We acknowledge the efforts being taken by the Government of Nigeria for the safe return of any missing children, Mr. Hawkins added.The latest attack comes about two months after more than300 students were abductedin a similar attack on a school in Kankara, Katsina state, about 280 kilometres (173 miles) north. The students abducted in that attack have since beenreleased. The abductions are a grim reminder of the April 2014kidnapping of 276 girls from their school dormitoryin Chibok by Boko Haram insurgents. Many of them remain missing.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.Media filesDownload logo
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