The United Nations has expressed concern over recurring terrorist attacks on schools in Nigeria following recent abductions and killings linked to attacks on educational institutions in Oyo State.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated this while responding to questions from the News Agency of Nigeria regarding the recent coordinated attacks on multiple schools in the country.
According to reports, armed groups attacked schools in Oyo State over the weekend, during which dozens of schoolchildren and teachers were reportedly abducted.
Two teachers were also said to have been killed during the attacks.
“We’re, of course, very concerned. We have seen the continued attacks on children, on places of education in Nigeria by extremist groups,” Dujarric said.
“As you can imagine, these have devastating impact on the communities,” he added.
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The spokesperson also disclosed that António Guterres was concerned about increasing terrorist activities in parts of Nigeria, especially following recent joint military strikes carried out by Nigerian and United States forces against ISIS targets in the country.
Dujarric stated that the UN system in Nigeria has continued to support efforts aimed at improving the protection of schools from attacks.
“The UN country team in Nigeria, in all its components, has been working with the Government in the impacted region.
“This is to find ways that we can support and strengthen and help make schools more safe for students, and we will continue to work in that vein,” he said.
The development comes amid growing concerns over insecurity and repeated attacks on schools and communities across parts of Nigeria.