Plan International Nigeria, has condemned attacks on schools, describing as a threat to Nigeria’s learning environments and increasing vulnerability of school children.
The organisation, in a statement by its Brand and Communications Manager, Ms Munachi Okoro, in Abuja on Saturday, expressed concern over the Friday abduction of some school children at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger.
It called for urgent action by relevant authorities to protect children’s right to education in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an unconfirmed number of students and staff members St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger, were abducted by some armed men in the early hours of Friday.
NAN also reports that the incident happened less than one week after the abduction of some school girls in Kebbi State.
The organisation’s Country Director, Dr Charles Usie, in the statement, said that the country could not continue to watch children being taken from classrooms with no guarantee of protection.
Usie added that a child’s quest for education should never become a risk to his/her life, maintaining schools must be places of learning, not places of fear.
“It is distressing that children and educators continue to be exposed to unsafe learning environments where armed non-state actors can abduct them with impunity.
“Every child deserves access to education in an environment where his/her safety, dignity and future are protected,” he said.
Usie stressed the need for relevant authorities to uphold their responsibilities of safeguarding Nigerian children, protect their right to learning and guarantee their safety, as they pursued a life of dignity and a productive future.
He noted that 10 years after Nigeria signed the Safe Schools Declaration (SSD) and six years after its ratification, there were still no sufficient structures or early warning systems to protect schools.
“This latest abduction occurring so soon after the Kebbi incident underscores the persistent inadequacies of the protection systems.
“If the safety of our children is not guaranteed, then the future of this country is in jeopardy.
“Nigeria must demonstrate stronger political will to uphold the right to education because in failing to protect children, we are failing our nation,” he said.
The country director called on the Federal Government to treat these cases as a matter of national priority and demonstrate commitment to safeguarding children, in line with section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“We reaffirm our commitment to standing with children, especially girls, across Nigeria advocating for their safety, education and future.
“We cannot afford to normalise the abduction of children who simply want to learn. Schools must be safe spaces, not zones of fear,” he stated.
NAN reports that Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.
