UN warns of alarming rise in violations against children as thousands of students and teachers face death, abduction, and trauma
The United Nations has raised alarm over a sharp increase in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 44 per cent surge in incidents over the past year. Nigeria ranks fourth among the countries with the highest verified grave violations, according to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who described the development as a direct assault on the future of children and communities.
In his message to mark the International Day to Protect Education, commemorated annually on September 9, Guterres warned that “no child should risk death to learn.” He said attacks on educational institutions in conflict zones had reached disturbing levels, with dire consequences for teachers, young learners, and entire societies.
The UN’s 2024 Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict documented over 41,000 incidents of violence against school-age children, including abductions, killings, and widespread trauma. Nigeria recorded 2,436 grave violations, trailing behind Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (8,554), the Democratic Republic of Congo (4,043), and Somalia (2,568). Haiti followed Nigeria closely with 2,269 violations.
The crisis is not new to Nigeria. In 2014, the world watched in horror as Boko Haram insurgents abducted 270 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State, sparking international outrage. More than a decade later, attacks and abductions continue to haunt the education system, with schools still being targeted across conflict-affected regions.
The UN report also pointed to a 34 per cent increase in rape and other forms of sexual violence against children, alongside a 17 per cent rise in abduction, recruitment, and other violations. Guterres described this as “an alarming escalation in brutality” against vulnerable populations.
Despite the challenges, efforts are ongoing to support children and educators in affected regions. Between January and July 2025, the UN and its humanitarian partners reached over 370,000 children and teachers, particularly in frontline and host communities. Meanwhile, over 420,000 children have been forced to continue learning fully online, while one million rely on hybrid models as insecurity disrupts physical learning spaces.
International law obliges parties to conflict to respect schools as safe zones, yet violations remain rampant. The UN has urged accountability for those responsible for these attacks, stressing that classrooms must be protected as places of hope, growth, and resilience.
“The pen, the book, and the classroom are all mightier than the sword,” Guterres declared, calling on global leaders and local authorities to safeguard the right of every child to education in safety and peace.ntónio Guterres
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