A new report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) exposes a chilling reality: over 1,680 Nigerian schoolchildren have been abducted in the last 10 years.
The report, titled “Minimum Standards for Safe Schools (MSSS) Monitoring Report,” reveals that 180 children were tragically killed in attacks on schools. The report further highlights the abduction of 60 school staff members, with 14 murdered during the same period.
Ms. Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, emphasizes the devastating impact these abductions have on education. “Education is a fundamental right and a crucial pathway out of poverty. Yet, for too many Nigerian children, it remains an unattainable dream,” said Munduate during the report’s presentation.
The report comes ten years after the infamous abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno State. UNICEF says that approximately 90 of these girls remain in captivity.
The report also raises concerns about the lack of preventative measures in place to protect schools. It reveals that only 37 percent of schools across 10 states have implemented early warning systems to identify potential threats.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
