I was awake all night over abduction of schoolchildren__ US envoy

The Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield expressed concern over the continuous abduction of schoolchildren in Nigeria.

She lamented that the Nigerian government must “hold people accountable and really have them punished for those kinds of acts.”

While speaking in a telephone conversation on how the US plans to mitigate conflict and enhance peace in Nigeria, she said: “I was reminded today that when I was asked early in my tenure what keeps me awake at night, and on that day that I was asked that question, Nigerian children had been kidnapped from a school.”

Moreso, you will understand that bandits and armed groups have recently abducted schoolchildren across most Northern state collecting huge ransoms.

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“And again, that is something that continues to happen in Nigeria. It’s something that we all have to work to address. We have to hold people accountable and really have them punished for those kinds of acts,” the envoy added.

“We have called the government out when we have seen violations being committed. And so as part of our work with Nigerian security services is also to help them be more effective and efficient in providing that kind of support and security for all Nigerians, but particularly for young children and young girls who are trying to get educated.”