‘Education under attack in northern Nigeria’ — Amnesty condemns Jangebe abductions

February 26, 2021 1:46 pm

Amnesty International (AI) has condemned the abduction of students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Zamfara state.

The human rights watchdog said the attack and similar ones in the past are proof that “education is under attack in northern Nigeria”.

Earlier on Friday, suspected bandits attacked the school in Talata-Mafara local government area and kidnapped many students.

TheCable could not immediately confirm the number of students taken hostage but the BBC Hausa said about 300 were confirmed missing after a headcount.

Writing via its Twitter handle, AI described the abduction as a war crime and asked the authorities to act fast to rescue the hostages.

It also said the incident “undermines the right to education” for thousands of children in northern Nigeria.

“Amnesty International condemns this appalling attack, which is the latest in a string of attacks on schools in northern Nigeria. —Attacks on schools and abductions of girls are war crimes,” the organisation said.

“Education is under attack in northern Nigeria. Schools should be places of safety, and no child should have to choose between their education and their life. Other children have had to abandon their education after being displaced by frequent violent attacks on their communities.

“The girls abducted are in serious risk of being harmed. Nigerian authorities must take all measures to return them to safety, along with all children currently under the custody of armed groups.”