On July
6th, 2013, 30 people were reportedly killed in an attack on a
boarding school by an armed Islamist group. Following the attack on the
government Secondary school in Mamido, Nigeria’s north-eastern state of Yobe’s
secondary schools have been ordered to close. Lucy Freeman, Amnesty
International’s Deputy Director for Africa said, the Nigerian government must
act to prevent attacks on schools to protect not only children’s lives but also
their right to education. Although the group Bolo Haram has claimed responsibility
for several assaults on schools in the past, not for sure who is responsible
for the attack.
Surprising
facts that around 30 schools have been reportedly burnt damaged or destroyed by
Boko Haram members in state of Borno alone since January 2013. The Boko Haram
members not only just destroyed the school but also convicted killing teachers
and students. As of result, many schools were forced to close after the
attacks. Boko Haram’s purpose of school assaults was “Western education is
forbidden.” Lucy Freeman said, “When education institutions are targeted or
attacked, the damage and resultant consequences can be major and far-reaching.”
This is
such a tragic event happening in Nigeria. Out of all the factors that make the
difference between human and animal, knowledge is by far the most important and
distinguished factor. However, the Boko Haram members are taking children’s
right to education and lives just because the western education is forbidden. I
have very little knowledge of Nigeria’s history, country, and current events.
However, innocent children became the target of terrorist members and the
government is not preventing it? Like what Lucy Freeman said, the restricted
access of education for students seems only matter of human rights in a short
term, yet, in the big picture, dragging down the every part of Nigeria. Children
are the ones who will carry the country which their parents left. To me, the
news means ‘Vanishing the future of Nigeria’.
Yes, this is a tragedy,but it is not one that is limited to Nigeria. Schools are vulnerable places and it makes them very easy targets. When people feel powerless, they bomb schools or do school shootings. So, when we see these things, it is not because people feel they are more powerful than others - it means they feel very weak if they have to target children.
ReplyDelete