The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) office in Nigeria has issued a powerful call for urgent action to protect children across the country, following a deadly attack on a school in Kebbi State.
The agency strongly condemned the recent assault on a Government Girls School in the Maga community, Northwest Nigeria, which tragically resulted in the death of the school’s Vice-Principal and the reported abduction of 25 students.
“This tragic incident is yet another stark reminder of the urgent need to protect children, schools, and the personnel they rely upon to learn safely,” said UNICEF’s Communication Specialist, Susan Akila, in a press statement. The statement extended heartfelt condolences to those who have lost loved ones and urged the swift and unconditional release of the abducted students.
Failing on the Safe Schools Pledge
UNICEF stressed that under international law, students, educational facilities, and their staff must be shielded from all forms of attack. The agency reminded the authorities in Nigeria of their commitment to the Safe Schools Declaration, which the government endorsed in 2015. This declaration outlines concrete steps to safeguard schools during times of conflict and insecurity, ensuring children can safely access education.
However, repeated attacks and abductions have created a “porous learning environment,” indicating a failure to fully implement the declaration’s protective measures. UNICEF is now demanding that all relevant stakeholders redouble their efforts to enforce the Safe Schools Declaration and hold those responsible for any attack on children to account.
The Heavy Economic Cost
Beyond the immediate humanitarian tragedy, the continued targeting of schools carries a heavy economic toll for Nigeria. Educational disruption, particularly in the already disadvantaged Northern regions, directly impacts future productivity and national development.
Attacks often lead to the closure of schools, forcing hundreds of thousands of children out of classrooms. This interruption contributes to a decline in knowledge and skills, which a 2022 UNICEF analysis estimated could result in a lifetime economic loss of approximately $3.4 billion from the affected children’s potential future earnings. The fear generated by these incidents also discourages parents from sending their children, especially girls, to school, thus perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality.
The violence has also shifted scarce government resources away from development projects and into emergency security operations, further slowing economic progress. Protecting schools is, therefore, not just a moral obligation, but a critical economic investment.
UNICEF emphasised that it is currently working with government partners, civil society, and local communities to reinforce child protection systems and promote safe learning environments. “No child should be put at risk while pursuing an education,” the statement concluded, insisting that these systems must be strengthened to prevent future tragedies.
