Thursday, August 20, 2026 - The United Nations Children’s Fund has called on the Federal and Borno State governments to expedite action towards securing the release of about 78 schoolchildren abducted in Lassa and Mussa communities in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of the state.
Recall that on May 16, 42 students and pupils were abducted
after suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked Mussa Primary and Junior
Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area.
Similarly, on June 29, suspected Boko Haram terrorists
invaded Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, also in Askira/Uba LGA,
abducting 36 students and one teacher.
The two abductions bring the total number of missing
children to 78.
The UNICEF Nigeria Deputy Representative, Dr Rownak Khan,
while responding to questions during a media briefing with the United Nations
Humanitarian Coordinator and other heads of agencies to commemorate the 2026
World Humanitarian Day in Maiduguri, said UNICEF was worried about the spate of
abductions in the state and the country at large.
She urged the authorities to ensure the safe return of all
kidnapped children to their families.
Khan described schools as safe places where children should
be able to learn and grow.
She said, “We are worried about the abduction of children,
not only in Borno State but in Nigeria at large. School should be a safe place
for them. They come here to learn and grow themselves.”
She stressed that UNICEF had been working with the Borno
State Government to ensure that safe-school protocols were implemented.
“However, it is a complex issue which is related to the
overall security situation in the country. We are advocating for all the
partners involved and joining voices to release those children,” she noted.
Khan assured that once the children were released, UNICEF
would support the government in providing the necessary psychosocial support
before their reintegration.
“Once we have seen the children released, we will work with
the government to reintegrate them, provide psychosocial support and nutrition,
health and so on,” she said.
“At the end of the day, they are Nigerian children, so it is
the ultimate responsibility of the government of Nigeria to make sure that,
first, they are not abducted, and secondly, put all the effort to release those
children back to their families,” she emphasised.
0 Comments