The Chinese government on Wednesday voiced a firm support of the Nigerian Government and condemned the abduction of over a hundred girls from Girls’ Collegein Chibok, Borno, by gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram
Hua Chunying, the Foreign Ministry said: “China strongly condemns and opposes terrorism in all forms.”
“We urge the immediate release of those innocent students, and assurance of their safety,” She stated at a regular press briefing.
Hua affirmed that China, as Nigeria’s strategic co-operative partner, would not relent in their firm support of the Nigerian government to protect its national security and stability.
Similarly, the United Nation’s Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has condemned the kidnapping of the schoolgirls.
Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF’s Regional Director (West & Central Africa), said, “Such brutal acts of violence are unacceptable. Attacks on schools deny children their right to learn in a safe environment and can rob them of their future. Wherever it takes place, abduction of children is a crime and illegal under international law.”
UNICEF stated that the girls “should be released unconditionally”. The agency also expressed concern about the recurrent attacks on schools in the country.
The agency also expressed a strong solidarity to all of the communities and families affected by these attacks to stand by them in these trying times.
The agency called for greater measures to protect the children of Nigeria and implored the Nigerian government to take steps to ensure that the children are returned safely to their families and also to continue their education in a safe environment.
In the same vien,Dame Patience Jonathan, Nigeria’s first lady, has called on the Boko Haram sect to free the 100 schoolgirls abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Chibok, Borno State.
The president’s wife made the call in a statement signed by Ayo Adewuyi, her media assistant, on Wednesday.
Mrs Jonathan appealed to the perpetrators to release the innocent girls and embrace dialogue as a means of settling differences with the government rather than resorting to abduction and other violent acts. She also called on Nigerians to intensify their prayers begging God to rid the nation of terrorism.
The first lady said she was aggrieved as a woman and mother when the report of the abduction reached her.
“It is inhuman and needless perpetration of evil against innocent school children”, Jonathan said. “It has again become necessary for us to strengthen the advocacy for resolving differences in our society in a peaceful manner, to avert violence and wars in the country.
She pointed out that no nation profits from a regime of fear and insecurity such as the ones being fomented by the Boko Haram terror group, saying there is no way a country will develop in an atmosphere that is not peaceful.
“There is the need to put a stop to all these, in order to put the nation back on track and enable our leaders to focus on development,” She said.
