By Ayo Kehinde
The United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Ranking Member, Senator Jim Risch, has accused the Nigerian government of consistently failing to safeguard schoolchildren from jihadist attacks and mass abductions, following Monday’s abduction of students in Kebbi State.
Risch, a Republican from Idaho, took to X to fault the government’s handling of school security, warning that Nigerian students—particularly girls—remain extremely vulnerable to “enslavement, conversion, and ransom” by armed groups operating across the country.
“Nigeria has long failed to protect its schoolchildren from jihadist and criminal abductions, and little has changed. As the U.S. engages the Nigerian government on the persecution of its most vulnerable citizens, we will continue to hold them accountable”, Risch said in a post reacting to the latest school raid.
No fewer than 25 students of Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS), Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The attack took place in the early hours of Monday when gunmen stormed the school and exchanged gunfire with police personnel stationed there.
The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafi’u Abubakar Kotarkoshi, confirmed that the Vice Principal, Hassan Makuku, was shot dead during the confrontation, while another staff member, Ali Shehu, sustained injuries.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has strongly condemned the attack, describing it as another grim reminder of the dangers faced by children in conflict-affected communities.
“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”, the agency said in a statement.
UNICEF expressed deep sympathy to the families, staff and community affected by the attack and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted girls.
“We stand with the affected community at this difficult time. Our heartfelt condolences go to those who have lost their loved ones, and we wish a full recovery for those injured”, the statement added, while urging the swift rescue of the children.
The agency emphasised that attacks on schools violate international humanitarian and human rights norms, stressing that students, teachers, and educational facilities must never be targeted.
“Students, education facilities, and their personnel should be protected under international law from any form of attack, and those responsible must be held accountable in accordance with national and international standards”, UNICEF warned.
It also reminded Nigeria of its commitment to the Safe Schools Declaration, endorsed in 2015, which mandates member states to adopt stronger policies and measures to protect educational institutions during crises.
“UNICEF calls on all relevant stakeholders to intensify efforts to implement the Safe Schools Declaration in Nigeria”, the organisation said.
The agency noted that it is working closely with federal and state governments, civil society organisations and community structures to strengthen child-protection systems and promote safer learning environments across the country.
“These systems and environments must be reinforced to prevent future tragedies. No child should be put at risk while pursuing an education”, UNICEF stated.
While security forces are still searching for the abducted students as anxiety deepens among parents and residents of the affected community, the incident adds to the growing list of school abductions that have plagued Nigeria over the past decade, from Chibok to Dapchi and several mass kidnappings across the North-West.
