CORRECTS - Armed groups kidnapped 1,680 students in violence-hit Nigeria in decade: UNICEF

IN FINAL PARAGRAPH, CORRECTS NUMBER OF ABDUCTED GIRLS WHO ESCAPED OR WERE RESCUED

By Timothy Olanrewaju

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Armed groups have kidnapped over 1,680 students and 60 school staff in various violent attacks on schools in Nigeria in a decade since Chibok kidnappings, UNICEF said on Monday.

UNICEF Country representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, also said 180 students and 14 staff were killed in school attacks during the period.

"In the last 10 years, conflict-related violence has led to more than 1,680 children abducted while at school and elsewhere," Munduate said in a statement on Monday to mark the 10th anniversary of the first school mass abduction of Chibok students in Nigeria.

She said that an estimated 60 school staff were kidnapped and 14 killed in more than 70 attacks on schools.

Munduate expressed concern over incessant attacks on school in the country. She said many lower schools in the country are yet to meet global standard for safety and security alert.

Munduate urged local authorities to take strong on the protection of children especially in their schools.

The UNICEF chief also called on government to find the root cause of mass abduction of school students to make the school environment safer for learning.

The abduction of 276 female students in their school dormitory in the town of Chibok, Northeast Borno State by Boko Haram on inApril 2014 drew global outrage and reactions, including then US First Lady, Michelle Obama.

The torrents of reactions across the world later led to the formation of a campaign #BringBackOurGirls. Over 100 of the abducted girls have either escaped from the terrorists or were rescued in various operations by the military since 2014.