The Diplomat
The Spanish government yesterday “strongly” condemned the abduction of more than 300 girls from a school in Zamfara State, in northwestern Nigeria and demands their immediate release.
The abduction took place last Friday when a group of armed persons in vehicles and on foot stormed the Jangebe Government Girl’s Secondary School. According to official estimates, some 317 girls are still unaccounted for. Police authorities, in coordination with military forces, have launched a search operation for the abductees.
A communiqué from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that this is “a very worrying act, especially when it is not the first of this magnitude in the region”, and recalls that Spain is a promoter of the United Nations Safe Schools initiative, which seeks to guarantee the security of schools in conflict scenarios, and “feels solidarity with the victims and very close to the Nigerian people; we will continue working with their government so that the right to education can be exercised in a climate of peace and security”.
“Acts as abject as this – the statement concludes – only reaffirm Spain’s commitment against terror and violence and the will to guarantee peace, security and stability in the region.”
