FG Urges Abductors To Release Leah Sharibu, Teachers, Others

–Ministry To Stop Use Of Schools By Military

The Federal Ministry of Education has called for the release of students and teachers abducted by insurgents.

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, made the call on Wednesday in commemoration of the first International Day for the Protection of Education from Attack, according to a statement by the Ministry’s Director, Press and Public Relations, Ben Bem Goong.

The statement said Adamu “decried the abduction of Chibok Girls, Leah Sharibu and other learners and teachers at places of learning as an infringement on their rights to quality education and called for their immediate release by their abductors.

“Acknowledging that schools and other learning facilities in different locations in the country had over the years been subjects of attacks by parties in conflicts and communal clashes especially Boko Haram, Bandits, thugs and unknown individuals and groups.”

Sharibu was among the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College students kidnapped by terrorists in 2018, in Dapchi, Yobe State.

The terrorists have yet to release her even as she maintains that she will not renounce her Christian faith.

The minister urged relevant stakeholders to maintain the sanctity of schools and also to ensure their protection.

But Adamu gave the assurance that the government would continue to protect lives and property as one its core diaries.

He also called for renewed commitments by all of the country’s security institutions to safeguard schools, students and officials.

“As a nation, we are committed to observing all relevant international conventions for the protection of schools and learning centres and facilities from attack.

“We recognise the interdependencies of several conventions, treaties and other instruments that will make this possible…

“Nigeria is a signatory to many of these instruments such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC); Convention against Discrimination in
Education (CADE); International Covenant on Economic, Social and CuturalRights (ICESCR); International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, among others,” he said.

Meanwhile, Adamu also said the ministry was working towards stopping the use of schools by military officials.

He said that that had made the school facilities to be targeted by insurgents.

“One of the areas we have taken steps at ensuring the protection of schools from attack is the proposed amendment to the Armed Forces Act.

“We are doing this through the Nigerian Education in Emergency (EIE) Working Group.

“When passed, the amended law will end the use of schools by the armed forces and will help to prevent attacks on educational facilities by opposing armed groups and limit disruptions to students’ learning”, he added.

Adamu Adamu also praised everyone who had lost their lives to violent attacks describing them as “fallen heroes”.