The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF says attacks and student kidnapping in parts of Nigeria have infused fear among communities stopping about one million children from returning to school.

The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF says school attacks and student kidnapping in parts of Nigeria have infused fear among communities stopping about one million children from returning to school.

UNICEF in a statement in Abuja lamented that there have been 20 attacks on schools this year, leading to the abduction of 1,436 children, 16 deaths and more than 200 children missing. It added that over 37 million children start the new school year this month.

The statement also quoted the UNICEF Representative in Nigeria Peter Hawkins, as calling for an end to insecurity as it increases the risk of children never stepping into a classroom.

Hawkins also charged the Federal Government to make its priority of providing a safe space for children to benefit from education clear by addressing insecurity.

The UN official however said it us unacceptable for communities to be worried to send their children to school for fear of being abducted from an environment that should be a safe space for them.

 

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