Schoolchildren kidnapped from an Islamic seminary three months ago walk from a van as they are reunited with their parents in Minna on August 27, 2021 after their gunmen captors freed them from forest hideouts. The May 30, 2021 Tegina seminary abduction in northwest Niger State was one of the longest-running mass kidnappings at a Nigerian school since December when criminal gangs began to target students and pupils.
In a statement, UNICEF representative in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins, said the organisation condemned Hayatu’s death, while calling for necessary measures to make schools safe in the country.“Children who went in search of knowledge were abducted at their school, which is supposed to be a safe place for them, while exercising their fundamental right to an education,” he said.
Hawkins said the release of the Tegina students comes in the run-up to the International Day to Protect Education from Attack on September 9, while Nigeria will also host the Fourth International Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration on October 25-27, 2021.