Insecurity: UN Offers To Assist Nigeria In Protecting Schools
By Jeremiah Kusoro with agency report
Following the unrelenting spate of attacks on education institutions in the Northeastern part of Nigeria by suspected insurgents, the United Nations (UN) on Friday, offered to assist Nigeria in protecting schools in the region.
Erstwhile British Prime Minister, Mr Gordon Brown, who spoke on behalf of the international community on CNN’s News Live yesterday, expressed concern over last week’s abduction of 234 students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State by members of the militant Islamist sect, Boko Haram.
“We’ve got to help Nigeria to do this. The UN is going to make proposals on how to protect school areas”, Mr. Brown was quoted as saying.
“The disturbing news like this goes beyond Nigeria. If young school girls are kidnapped in Nigeria, and it is happening in Pakistan and Iraq, it raises huge question about the future, the first thing for now is the safety of the girls”, he added.
Nigeria, according to Mr. Brown, requires international support to secure its schools against the backdrop of increasing attacks by Boko Haram gunmen.
He added: “Boko Haram means western education is a sin and the Islamic militant group is determined to use school as a battleground to prosecute its campaign.
“We’ve got to make schools more secure. About ten and half millions children are not going to school particularly because of lack of teachers and discrimination against female children in rural communities.
“Nigeria needs international support to correct this and we’ve got to deal with lack of facilities and safety too.
“The international community has got to prepare to assist in this regard”.
