NATIONAL: UN demands ‘immediate, unconditional’ release of abducted Kankara schoolboys

THE United Nations has condemned the mass abduction of students at the Government Science School at Kankara, Kastina State.

The organisation expressed its concern in a statement by the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, on Monday.

Gunmen on motorcycles attacked the government boarding school on Friday night and kidnapped some unspecified number of students after engaging security forces in gunbattle, causing hundreds of students to scamper into the bushes and forest for safety.

The police, in the wake of the incident claimed they had rescued over 200 of the abducted schoolboys.
Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari who visited the school on Saturday said soldiers were working to locate and free the hostages.

Masari, however, noted that 333 student were missing as of Sunday afternoon when he visited the school

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, however, countered Masari in an interview with BBC, Hausa.

The presidential spokesman said only 10 schoolboys were missing.

But showing his displeasure over the abduction, the United Nations said attacks on schools and other educational facilities is a grave violation of human rights.

The statement read, “The Secretary-General strongly condemns the 11 December attack on a secondary school in Katsina State, Nigeria, and the reported abduction of hundreds of boys by suspected armed bandits.

“The Secretary-General calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted children and for their safe return to their families. He reiterates that attacks on schools and other educational facilities constitute a grave violation of human rights. He urges the Nigerian authorities to bring those responsible for this act to justice.

“The Secretary-General reaffirms the solidarity and support of the United Nations to the Government and people of Nigeria in their fight against terrorism, violent extremism, and organized crime.”