UN and UNICEF Demand Action for Abducted Borno Children

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, urged for stronger actions to protect schools and secure the release of children abducted in Borno State during a commemoration of International Humanitarian Day in Maiduguri. Fall stated that schools should be safe spaces for children, where their security should never be threatened.

He noted that while some children have been released, others remain in captivity, and expressed hope that collaboration among the Nigerian government, international partners, and security forces would lead to their release. A UNICEF Deputy Representative emphasized the government's primary responsibility for protecting children and ensuring their return to families.

UNICEF is providing psychosocial care, nutrition, and healthcare to aid the recovery of released children and is working to strengthen safe school protocols. Fall also mentioned the increasing complexity of the security situation, which has led to widespread displacement, affecting approximately 2.7 million people across Nigeria.