180 Children Killed, 1,680 School Kidnapped, 14 School Staff killed In Nigeria Since 2014- Report

By Babatunde Solanke

An organisation, Save the Children, in its latest data analysis, has revealed that at  least 180 school children were killed, 1,680 schoolchildren  kidnapped, 14 School staff killed  in Nigeria since the 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno State.

The organisation, which stated this in a statement issued on Thursday, August 17, 2023, stated that attacks on schools have been continuing out of the spotlight.

According to the organization, in addition to the abductions,  nearly 90 injured in 70 attacks between April 2014 and December 2022, with an estimated 60 school staff kidnapped.

The organization added further that 25 school buildings were reportedly destroyed during that period, with the majority of the attacks taking place in North-West Nigeria (49 attacks), followed by North-Central Nigeria (11 attacks).

According to the statement, in the aftermath of attacks, children and communities are left traumatised, and the many do not receive psychological support.

The statement added that as its staff found, during focus group discussions with affected communities,  that many children were too scared to return to school.

 “One girl, who survived the Chibok school attack, said: “I am afraid of being a victim some other day and afraid of dying or rape by the insurgents,” the statement said.

The Country Director at Save the Children Nigeria, Famari Barro, said more needs to be done to prevent attacks but also to support children and their families in the aftermath.