TheCable

Antonio Guterres, United Nations secretary-general, has condemned the abduction of students and some members of staff of the Government Science College, Kagara, Niger state. 

On Wednesday, bandits invaded the school and kidnapped 27 students, three members of staff and 12 family members.

The incident occurred about two months after 344 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina state were abducted by bandits.

The kidnapped Katsina students were, however, released less than a week after their abduction.

Reacting in a statement by Stéphane Dujarric, his spokesman, Guterres described attacks on schools and other educational facilities as “abhorrent and unacceptable”.

He urged the federal government to “spare no effort in rescuing those abducted and holding to account those responsible for this act”.

The UN chief expressed his “deepest condolences” to the bereaved and his sympathies to affected families.

Also, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in a statement, condemned the attack “in the strongest possible terms”.

It called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of any child who might be missing and their safe return to their families.

UNICEF quoted Peter Hawkins, its Nigeria representative, as saying that attacks on schools were a violation of children’s rights.

“Children should feel safe at home and at school at all times,” Hawkins reportedly said.

“Parents should not need to worry for the safety of their children when they send them off to school in the morning.”

He acknowledged efforts being taken by security agencies to rescue the missing children and safely return them to their families.

Earlier, TheCable was live at the school and was able to obtain exclusive pictures of some persons that were abducted from the school.

Pictures of a local vigilante group that had also joined the rescue mission for the victims are also captured here.