UN Urges Immediate Release of Abducted Students in Nigeria

The United Nations, represented by Resident Humanitarian Coordinator Mohammed Malick Fall, has demanded the immediate and safe release of school children and teachers abducted during recent attacks in Oyo and Borno states. This call followed a meeting in Abuja led by Dr. Samuel Umanah, focusing on the growing concerns regarding the security situation affecting educational institutions across Nigeria.

The UN expressed deep sadness over the abduction of 40 school children and seven teachers during an attack on three schools in Oyo State, where one teacher was reportedly killed. In Borno State, gunmen abducted 50 children, including toddlers, from local schools.

The UN emphasized that schools should be safe havens for learning, not places of fear, and called for intensified actions by authorities to ensure the swift and safe return of the abducted victims. The statement underscored the urgent need for stronger measures to protect children and educational facilities from violence and insecurity.