Bombing at a Children’s School in Nigeria

On Monday, November 10th, 2014, CNN reported that there was a suicide bomber that struck a school in Northern Nigeria. The attacks was said to have taken place at 7:50am. It was said that the person was trying to blend in with the students. According to CNN, “[a]t least 47 people were killed and 79 were wounded.”

And while there has been no confirmation of who was responsibility for the attacks, officials believe that that violent extremist group Boko Haram is responsible for this action. Some think this is the case because of the group targeting schools that focus on a “Western curriculum” (CNN, 2014). But without confirmation by authorities and investigators, we will have to monitor the situation until a perpetrator is identified.

However, this is the not the first incident of violence in the region. If we recall, “In February, Boko Haram gunmen killed at least 40 students when they opened fire and threw explosives in student hostels in a government boarding school in the town of Buni Yadi, in Yobe state. And last year, 42 students were killed when Boko Haram gunmen attacked dormitories with guns and explosives in a government boarding school near Potiskum” (CNN, 2014). They have been pressing for an Islamic state in Northern Nigeria (CNN, 2014).

This attack on school children is horrifying, and a direct violation of human rights. Here, these individuals had nothing to do with the politics of the state, and yet, their lives were taken. Whoever is responsible for these actions must be held accountable, not only in terms of a crime, but a specific crime against humanity. The international community must refer to scores of legal documents, such as the ICCPR, ICESCR, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well the mandate of the International Criminal Court in order to use all legal tools at their disposal to bring those who committed this crime to justice. 

Furthermore, we must continue to speak out against any puritanical interpretations of religion, ideology, etc… We must speak out against anyone that tries to use religion, political interpretations, etc… to justify the killing of innocents; we as a world community and family must stand up against such individuals and groups who are willing to commit heinous crimes against children and others.