Over 2,400 grave violations reported against Nigerian students in 2024
Nigeria has been ranked fourth in the world for the highest number of grave violations against school children in armed conflict, according to the United Nations Secretary-General’s 2024 report on Children and Armed Conflict, released in 2025.
The report revealed that Nigeria recorded 2,436 serious violations in 2024 — including abductions, child recruitment, sexual violence, and attacks on schools. Only Israel (and occupied Palestinian territory), DR Congo, and Somalia ranked higher.
A global crisis, and Nigeria is near the top
In total, the UN verified a staggering 41,370 violations globally — the highest number recorded in nearly 30 years.
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Israel: 8,554 violations
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DR Congo: 4,043
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Somalia: 2,568
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Nigeria: 2,436
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Haiti: 2,269
While non-state armed groups were responsible for many of the attacks, the report also placed blame on government forces, particularly for killings, maiming, and attacks on schools and hospitals.
“These violations threaten not only individual lives but the future of entire communities,” the report warned.
Schools are becoming battlegrounds
Between 2022 and 2023, attacks on schools surged by 44% globally, while the military use of schools rose by 20%. Over 10,000 students and teachers were killed, abducted, arrested, or injured in that time.
The report described this trend as a direct assault on childhood and education.
“Children caught in conflicts are being robbed of their childhood,” said Virginia Gamba, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict.
Gamba called on governments to treat children involved in armed groups as victims, not criminals, and to explore alternatives to detention. More than 3,000 children were detained globally in 2024 alone for alleged links to armed groups.
Nigeria’s Safe Schools efforts falling short
Nigeria signed the Safe Schools Declaration in 2018 and introduced a national violence-free schools policy in 2021. It also launched the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre to fund and oversee school safety.
But as of mid-2025, only 11,000 schools had enrolled in the initiative — a small fraction of the country’s total number of public and private schools.
Despite the framework being in place, implementation has lagged, and the persistent insecurity in parts of the country continues to put millions of children at risk.
What’s next?
The UN report was released just ahead of the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, which will be marked by a high-level event in Geneva. The report urges full commitment to the Safe Schools Declaration, stronger education systems, and better protection for students and teachers caught in conflict zones.
