The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has applauded the release of more than 20 children abducted last week in the northwestern Nigerian state of Katsina and highlighted the work of authorities in securing their rescue.
«UNICEF welcomes with relief the news of the release of 21 children abducted from a farm in the Faskari area of Katsina,» the agency said in a statement, before stressing that «this is welcome news for parents, caregivers, community leaders and everyone.»
It stressed that «these children should not have been abducted in the first place, as no one, especially children, should be subjected to abduction or violence of any kind», while showing its willingness to help local authorities to provide psychosocial support to those rescued to «recover from the trauma and reintegrate into society».
At first it was reported that 40 children were kidnapped, but the police statement assures that all the hostages have been released. According to information reported by the Nigerian newspaper ‘The Premium Times’, the kidnappers had demanded the payment of 30 million naira (about 70,120 euros) as ransom.
The insecurity in Nigeria, previously centered in the northeast of the country, has spread in recent months to other areas in the north and northwest, raising alarms about the possible expansion of these terrorist and criminal networks.
