Basseterre, St. Kitts — The Government of St Kitts and Nevis expresses its profound concern at the abduction of over 200 innocent Nigerian school girls while they were asleep in their dormitories at their secondary school in the village of Chibok on April 14.

This attack has devastated an entire village, where families are forced to cope with the daily anguish of not knowing the fate of their daughters, sisters, granddaughters or nieces.  This act is morally reprehensible and has left a gaping vacuum in the entire community of Chibok and has had ripple effects across the nation of Nigeria and indeed the world.  It has forced people everywhere to grapple with an issue that has been ignored for much too long – the plight of the over 65 million girls world-wide who are prevented from receiving an education.

The Government and people of St Kitts and Nevis stand in solidarity with the people of Nigeria, particularly the families affected by this tragic event, and add our voices to the call for the immediate release of the girls and their return to the their homes and school. We also wish to join the mass campaign on behalf of girls all over the globe who share their daily battle to secure their right to receive an education. We welcome the global conversation that has intensified as a result of this act and hope that it will precipitate a global pact to defend and champion the rights of all girls to attend school.

It is our hope that the Government of Nigeria will spare no resources to locate and rescue these girls and will continue to embrace offers of assistance from third states.

The Government and people of St. Kitts and Nevis continue to keep the families and the girls of Chibok, Nigeria, in our prayers.