By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria Mohamed Malick Fall on Tuesday called for stronger protection of civilians and schools after a wave of attacks in Niger state in the north-central part of the country.
The most recent incident occurred on Saturday when more than 30 people were reportedly killed in an attack on a market in Kasuwan Daji village located in the Borgu Local Government Area.
The gunmen also abducted an unknown number of people and set fire to market stalls and nearby homes.
He noted other concerning incidents were reported elsewhere, including in Agwara LGA where a mass abduction occurred in November following an attack on Saint Mary’s Catholic School. More than 300 people, mostly students, were captured and later released.
“These attacks are grave violations of human rights, including the right to life and the protection of civilians, particularly women and children, and undermine the right to education,” Mohamed Malick Fall said in a statement.
“Students, schools, and education personnel must be protected from any form of attack. No child should ever be at risk while pursuing an education – a fundamental right for all children.”
He recalled that the UN has reiterated the need for the implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration in Nigeria.
Over 120 countries have endorsed the 2015 Declaration which outlines commitments to boost the protection of education from attack and bar the use of schools and universities for military purposes during armed conflict.
