Abducted Schoolgirls: Group Seeks UN Intervention

Following the non release of the secondary school girls kidnapped in Chibok, Borno State, a non-governmental organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged the United Nations, UN, to intervene and secure their release from their abductors.

Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni, the Executive Director of the civil society group made this plea in a statement released in Lagos on Thursday.

It could be recalled that hundreds of girls were abducted in their school on April 15 by people believed to be members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

The group said the continued detention of the girls had negative impact on their well-being and long-term education.

It urged the UN, through its various agencies, to provide international assistance and support to the Nigerian authorities to secure the release of the girls.

The statement reads: “We are urging these bodies to move swiftly to support efforts to protect schools, teachers, and students from deliberate attacks in the North-Eastern part of the country.

 * Boko Haram's spokesman

“In particular, we urge the UN Security Council’s Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on Children and Armed Conflicts to take strong action by referring members of the Boko Haram and their backers to the International Criminal Court.

“Accountability for attacks on school children and education, including prosecuting perpetrators, is critical to deterring perpetration of crimes under international law,” the group said.

SERAP addeed that the abduction of the girls is an attack on their right to education which calls for a strong international effort.

It urged the Federal Government to specifically criminalise attacks on students and teachers, and prohibit the use of schools for military purposes.