UN, US, Others Condemn Schoolgirls’ Abduction

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon

MEMBERS of the international community and Nigerians on Wednesday expressed shock at the abduction of 100 schoolgirls at a school in Chibok, Borno State on Monday night.

Gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect had invaded the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok and kidnapped the female pupils, some of who were sitting for the 2014 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations.

Reacting to the kidnapping, the Secretary General, United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon,  condemned the shocking mass abduction of the schoolgirls.Continue to read after the cut...

He called for the immediate and unconditional release of all the girls and their safe return to their families.

The Secretary General in a statement on Wednesday, said he was deeply alarmed about the increasing frequency and brutality of attacks against educational institutions in the northern part of the country.

“The targeting of schools and school children is a grave violation of international humanitarian law. Schools are, and must remain, safe places where children can learn and grow in peace,” he stated.

Also, the United Nations Children Education Fund on Wednesday condemned the action and called for the unconditional and immediate release of the girls.

The agency also expressed concern about the persistent trend of attacks on schools in Nigeria, saying most recently, unidentified gunmen killed 53 children between 13 and 17 years old at the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Yobe State, in February.

A statement by UNICEF’s Regional Director (West and Central Africa), Manuel Fontaine,  said, “Such brutal acts of violence are unacceptable. Attacks on schools deny children their right to learn in a safe environment and can rob them of their future. Wherever it takes place, abduction of children is a crime and illegal under international law.

“Monday night’s attack on the Chibok school took place hours after over 70 people were killed in a bomb attack at a bus station in the Nyanyan neighbourhood, close to the capital, Abuja.
“UNICEF expresses its deepest solidarity to all the communities affected by these horrific acts, and stands with the families of the abducted children in these difficult times. The agency calls for greater efforts to protect all children throughout Nigeria.”

In its reaction, the United States Government said that it received the news of the kidnapping of the female pupils with shock.

The US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, while describing the abduction of the girls as “horrible,” stated that the incident underlies “how serious” the challenge of Boko Haram is.

To this end, Entwistle pledged the White House’s readiness to offer assistance to the Federal Government in “every appropriate way” in the search for the abducted girls, as well as in bringing an end to terrorist activities in Nigeria.

Entwistle spoke in Lagos on Wednesday during the opening ceremony of a multinational maritime military exercise tagged, “Obagame Express 2014” sponsored by the Africa Command of the US Naval Forces.

The US envoy said, “It is condemnable. That kind of incident along with the bombing in Abuja, just explains why my country (US) stands with your country (Nigeria) in the struggle against terrorism.

“We are willing to help in every appropriate way. But that kind of incident is shocking and that just underlies how serious this is. But our heart goes out to those children and to their families. 

“I’m sure the security forces are already looking for them and trying to respond to the situation. I know your government is already doing everything it can but it is a horrible incident.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress has described the abduction of the female students as a crime against Nigeria and humanity.

In a statement titled, “You must find these girls”, the NLC General Secretary, Mr. Chris Uyot, said the union was outraged and appalled by the abduction. 

“This is disgusting, repugnant, nauseating, chilling and totally unacceptable. This is a heinous crime against our children, our women, the Nigerian nation and against humanity, and must not be allowed to stand.” 

The union urged security forces to restore their honour and dignity by speedily finding and rescuing the “innocent girls before any more harm befalls them. 

“It is mind-boggling that in spite of repeated assaults on schools in the North-East, no appreciable effort has been made to secure the schools where these students have had to study under the most hostile conditions.

“It is equally amazing that in spite of the supposedly innumerable security checkpoints in the region, truck-loads of young girls could disappear into thin air in a Sahel region!”

The NLC said it felt the need to express its concerns over the incident even though it did not want to join the raging arguments of duplicity and complicity surrounding the anti-terror campaign in the North-East.”

Also, the pan-northern socio-political organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum, has condemned the abduction of the female students.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim, told one of our correspondents in Kaduna that the incident was not only sad but painful and unfortunate.

He wondered how such a thing could happen   despite the heavy presence of the military and other  security operatives in the state.

The ACF’s spokesman said, “It is sad, painful and unfortunate that such incident of abduction of students by the insurgent in a state where you have an emergency rule with heavy presence of the military and other security agencies could take place.

“ACF condemns this wicked act of terrorism against innocent students who do not even understand the grievances of the insurgents. 

“ACF calls on security agencies to intensify effort in search of the kidnappers and their victims.
“ACF equally sympathises with the parents and the relatives of the students and prays that the abductors release them in good health.”