The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Monday condemned the killing of some school children in Nigeria's northeastern Yobe State over the weekend.

Gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect on Saturday attacked the Government Secondary School in Mamudo, Yobe State, killing more than 20 students, a teacher and an Islamic preacher.

The attack occurred while the students were asleep.

There can be no justification for targeting children and those looking after them, UNICEF said in a statement issued by its Regional Director for West and Central Africa Manuel Fontaine.

"As we extend our sympathy to the families of the victims, we would say in the strongest possible terms that there can be no justification for the deliberate targeting of children and those looking after them," the statements said.

The UN agency called on Nigerian governments at all levels to ensure that those responsible for the dastardly act were brought to book.

The statement noted that 48 students and seven teachers had been killed since June 16 in four separate attacks in the region, and stressed the need for safety in all schools and the prevention of future occurrences.

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