UNICEF condemns killing of students in northeastern Nigeria
2014-02-26
DAKAR, Senegal/ HONG KONG, 26 Feuary 2014 - UNICEF expressed its outrage at the utal killing yesterday of some 45 children, between 13 and 17 years old, by unidentified gunmen at the Federal Government College of Buni Yadi, Yobe State, Nigeria.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms this vicious attack on students,” said UNICEF's Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Manuel Fontaine. “Many young lives were lost. Many more students and teachers are deprived of their right to education. Attacks on children and schools are unacceptable under any circumstances.”
UNICEF is deeply concerned about the repeated attacks on schools in northeastern Nigeria in this context of fear and violence. Since June 2013, four attacks resulted in school closures affecting thousands of students, many of whom have had no access to formal learning for months.
“When a school is under attack and students become targets, not only their lives are shattered --the future of the nation is stolen,” added Fontaine.
UNICEF offers it deepest condolences to all the families and communities affected by these senseless acts and calls for greater efforts to protect all children throughout Nigeria.