News
UN Calls for Release of Abducted Pupils, Teachers in Oyo and Borno
By Abigail David
The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, has called for the immediate and safe release of pupils and teachers abducted during recent attacks on schools in Oyo and Borno states.
Fall made the appeal following a meeting in Abuja with a delegation from the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre, led by Dr. Samuel Umanah, amid growing concerns over attacks on educational institutions and the safety of schoolchildren.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the UN official expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation affecting schools and learning communities across Nigeria.
The meeting focused on security challenges facing educational institutions, while both parties expressed solidarity with affected families, school authorities and communities.
In Oyo State, gunmen attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, abducting more than 40 pupils, including toddlers, alongside seven teachers. The affected schools were Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community High School, Ahoro-Esienle; and L.A. Primary School.
Reports indicated that one teacher was killed during the attack, while another was later murdered in captivity.
A similar incident occurred in Mussa, Borno State, where armed men reportedly attacked three schools and abducted more than 50 children, most of them between the ages of two and five. The affected institutions included Government Day Secondary School, Mussa Central Primary School and SUBEB Secondary School.
Describing the attacks as unacceptable, Fall stressed that schools should remain safe environments for learning.
“The UN Resident Coordinator is deeply saddened that these school children and their teachers are still being held by armed groups. Schools must remain safe havens for learning and not places of fear. Children should never be a target,” he said.
He noted that the incidents highlight the urgent need for stronger measures to protect children, teachers and educational facilities from violence and insecurity.
While acknowledging efforts by government authorities and security agencies, Fall urged them to intensify operations aimed at securing the safe return of all abducted victims and ensuring those responsible are brought to justice.
He also reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to supporting initiatives that promote safe, inclusive and violence-free learning environments across Nigeria.
According to him, protecting children’s right to education remains essential, particularly in vulnerable and conflict-affected communities where schools increasingly face security threats.
Fall further advocated the full implementation of Minimum Standards for Safe Schools, stronger emergency response systems and improved data-driven strategies to protect schools and at-risk children nationwide.
By Abigail David
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called for a new approach to women’s economic empowerment, urging women to move beyond being beneficiaries of interventions and become active contributors to Nigeria’s economic growth.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim made the call at the SheIsIncluded 2026 Summit, where the Federal Government announced plans to expand economic opportunities to 10 million Nigerian women through skills development, recognised credentials, employment and entrepreneurship.
The minister said women should be equipped with the tools and opportunities needed to create wealth and contribute meaningfully to the economy.
Under the SheIsIncluded initiative, women will have access to free, mobile-based learning in local languages using phones they already own. Participants will also receive verifiable credentials designed to be recognised by employers and financial institutions.
The programme is supported by Ubuntu Tribe, its implementation and technology partner, through Ubuntu Tribe Academy.
Ubuntu Tribe founder, Mamadou Kwidjim Toure, said technology could help remove barriers to skills development by making learning accessible regardless of income or location.
Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, Nurudeen Zauro, described the summit as a shift from policy discussions to practical implementation.
The initiative is part of the government’s broader economic development agenda and its ambition to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
By Abigail David
The West African Examinations Council has announced that the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination for School Candidates certificates are now available on its Digital Certificate Platform.
WAEC made this known in a post on its official X handle on Friday, urging candidates to access their certificates through the platform.
“The 2026 WASSCE for School candidate Certificate is now available for access on the WAEC Digital Certificate Platform,” the examination body said.
Candidates can access, download and share their certificates through the platform by visiting the official WAEC website or using the WAEC Digital Certificate mobile application.
The digital certificate platform provides two categories of access: Certificate Access, for individuals who want to view, download or share their certificates, and Certificate Confirmation, for institutions and organisations seeking to verify candidates’ certificates.
How to access WAEC certificate online
To access the 2026 WASSCE certificate online, candidates should:
- Visit the official WAEC website and access the Digital Certificate Platform.
- Select Certificate Access.
- Provide the required examination details and identification information.
- Complete the verification process, including any OTP authentication where required.
- View and download the digital certificate.
- Save the certificate securely or share it with institutions that require it.
WAEC also advised candidates to use its official digital certificate application, available on the Google Play Store, to access their certificates.
The certificate platform is separate from the WAEC result-checking portal, which candidates use to check their examination results.
The development comes after WAEC released the results of the 2026 WASSCE for School Candidates. WAEC said 1,950,726 candidates sat for the examination, with 1,200,514 candidates, representing 61.54 per cent, obtaining credits and above in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
The 2026 examination was conducted between April 21 and June 19, 2026, with candidates across more than 24,200 secondary schools participating.
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Armed bandits, in large numbers, have again reportedly launched an attack, killing a local vigilante, Mustapha Baba, and abducting a woman and her son at Kyauta, Millennium City, in Kaduna State.
The brother of the deceased, Yusuf Baba, who confirmed the incident on his social media handle, said Mustapha Baba was shot by the bandits during the attack and rushed to Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, Kaduna, where he later died on Wednesday night.
The terrorist group reportedly attacked a house located near the popular Mai-Rago Friday Mosque in the area.
According to a family source, the attackers demanded to see the owner of the house but later abducted his wife and son when they could not find the main target.
Series of attacks
It was gathered that the incident is the latest in a series of attacks targeting Kyauta and other communities within Millennium City.
A previous attack was reported at the Police Estate in Baban Saura, where five residents were reportedly abducted.
During a recent security meeting, residents of Millennium City appealed to the Kaduna State Government and security agencies to improve road access to some parts of the community as part of efforts to address insecurity.
Stakeholders demand action
The Chairman of the Millennium City Security, Development and Enhancement Forum and Chairman of Katukan Danhonu Community, Alhaji Abu Mohammed, said stakeholders had identified the completion of the Eastern Bypass road project as a top priority, describing the abandoned road and bridge construction as a major challenge to effective security operations in the area.
The stakeholders urged the Federal Government to expedite work on the Eastern Bypass and complete the bridge to improve accessibility for security agencies, facilitate the movement of heavy-duty vehicles and ensure prompt emergency response to security threats.
They also called for the deployment of additional police and military personnel, as well as more sophisticated security equipment, to strengthen the capacity of security agencies to combat banditry and protect communities in the area.
Police yet to comment
The police had yet to issue any official statement regarding the attack as at the time of filing this report on Thursday.
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