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• ANCOPSS, NAPSS, NUT, others urge govt to act fast to arrest situation
By Gabriel Dike, Lagos and Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Palpable fear has gripped schools nationwide over the safety of teachers and pupils following the widespread abductions in some states.
Schools are on red alert while stakeholders demanded drastic action from the federal and state governments to tackle the security challenges.
There were reports yesterday that parents stormed some schools to withdraw their wards based on an alleged security report of an impending attack in one of the Northern states.
A concerned parent, Chief Remi Olokun, said in his ward’s university platform that parents were worried and continued to ask questions about security arrangements to protect their children.
“I am on red alert and monitoring the situation in my children’s university and polytechnic. If I get any negative report, I will recall them home,’’ he stated.
In fact, the Pan Africa University (PAU), Lagos, has gone a step further to issue a security advisory to staff and students, saying it had received reports of security-related concerns within the Ibeju-Lekki axis.
The memo read: “While normal activities are expected to continue as usual, all members of the community are advised to remain vigilant and exercise caution in their daily movements. The university is actively monitoring the situation and will communicate further updates and guidance as developments warrant.”
The university management advised staff and students to stay alert and be mindful of their surroundings and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate security authorities promptly.
The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has expressed concern over what it described as the slow response by government authorities to the rescue of teachers and pupils.
In a statement jointly issued by its National President, Dr Samira Jibir and the National Secretary, Dr Kayode Adeyemi in Abuja, yesterday, the association said it stood in solidarity with the victims of the abduction and strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a barbaric act.
NAPPS called on the Federal and State Governments, security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the immediate rescue of the kidnapped teachers and pupils.
It also commended the response of its members in Ogbomoso District of Oyo State, who had shut down their schools for days and intensified prayers for the safe release of the victims.
According to the association, the actions of its members are in addition to ongoing engagements with government authorities and other stakeholders aimed at securing the release of the abducted teachers and pupils.
They pledged the continued consultations of the association with relevant stakeholders and pursue lawful means of advocating for the safety of schoolchildren and improved security in schools across the country.
NAPPS urged authorities to take decisive steps to address insecurity and protect learners, teachers and educational institutions nationwide.
Reacting, Secretary, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State chapter, Mr. Gbenga Aiyetoba, said the biggest challenge facing the teaching profession is insecurity.
“The abduction of children and killing of our members are unacceptable. Our schools are longer safe for teaching and learning. Oyo State schools have been shut and we have told government that if nothing is done, schools nationwide will be closed. Our national leaders have communicated this to the government,’’ Aiyetoba.
President of the All Nigeria Confederation of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Mr. Masheyi Abayomi, said a nation whose future leaders are in the forest and teachers are afraid to go to school is doomed.
Abayomi said government was not doing enough to tackle the abduction of teachers and pupils.
“We visited the school in Oyo, there is no fence. Safety is the biggest problem in our schools. We need government action to tackle the security challenge. We are moving to a dangerous situation.
“Hope we will not get to a situation when principals and teachers will come to schools with weapons to protect themselves,’’ Abayomi stated.
The National President, Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), Orji Kanu Emmanuel, said the red alert in school is not an exaggeration. “It is alarming to say the least. Our schools have become central targets for kidnappers, bandits, terrorists and other non-state actors. It is sad and I am worried because this has turned into a lucrative commercial venture for perpetrators who remain largely unchecked.
“No, teachers and pupils are not safe enough. When fear replaces focus in the classroom, learning stops. Safety is not just the absence of attack; it is the presence of confidence. That confidence is missing today.”
According to him, school owners cannot fold their arms, advising them to do the little that they can by putting perimeter fencing and gated entry, adding, “a school without a fence is exposed.’’
He called for community collaboration by asking questions on any unauthorized movement around the school and urged the owners to work with PTA, vigilantes, and community leaders for intelligence sharing.
The educationist wants schools to have a direct line to the nearest police station, local hunters, and vigilante groups and also run drills with pupils and staff so everyone knows what to do.
“Shutting down schools means absolute surrender. It means ceding governance and sovereignty to enemies. “One child out of school is one child for the street” – and for recruitment by criminals.
“Instead of closure, we need targeted protection. If a specific school has a credible threat, relocate pupils temporarily and deploy security. But closing schools nationwide hands victory to terrorists. Education must not stop because criminals are active,” he stated.
Orji said government appears hapless while the situation deteriorates by the day and advised the administration to declare a state of emergency on school security, “not the kind we have heard that changed nothing.
“This is not just a security problem. It is an existential threat to Nigeria’s future. We cannot build a nation while our children learn in fear. The time for excuses is over. The time for action is now.”
The Nigerian Brewery Plc, Director of Corporate Affairs, Uzodinma Odenigbo at the 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year, called on the government and other stakeholders to ensure that schools are safe and secure for learning, adding, “we look forward to the swift return of those kidnapped in Oyo and Borno states.”
Mr. Chinonso Obasi, Executive Director of the African Students Education Support Initiative (ASESI), described the abduction of schoolchildren as a tragic reflection of worsening insecurity and failure of leadership at various levels of government.
He expressed concern that innocent children continue to be targeted while pursuing their education, noting that repeated attacks on schools and the prolonged captivity of students have weakened public confidence in the nation’s ability to protect its citizens.
“As an organisation dedicated to advancing education and protecting the welfare of students, we are deeply concerned that innocent children continue to be targeted while pursuing their right to education.”
Obasi stressed that the primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property, warning that the inability of children to attend school without fear of kidnapping raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the country’s security architecture.
He noted that beyond the immediate trauma suffered by victims and their families, such incidents discourage school attendance and undermine efforts to address Nigeria’s growing out-of-school children crisis.
He called on the Federal Government, state governments and security agencies to take immediate and decisive measures to secure the release of all abducted students and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
Obasi urged government to strengthen security around schools, improve intelligence gathering, enhance security presence in vulnerable communities and fully implement existing school safety policies.
He added that public officials responsible for security should be held accountable, while communities should be actively involved in supporting local security efforts. “Nigeria must not allow the kidnapping of schoolchildren to become a recurring reality. Every child deserves a safe and secure learning environment. All stakeholders must work together to protect our schools, restore public confidence and secure the future of our nation’s children,” he said.
President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, advocated the full implementation of local government autonomy, arguing that it would enable grassroots authorities to play a more active role in tackling insecurity.
According to him, local governments would be better positioned to recruit and equip security personnel to protect their communities if they had greater financial independence.
He said many of the communities targeted by criminals are often areas that receive little attention from state and federal authorities. “If local governments are financially empowered, they will be better equipped to respond to these criminals and strengthen security within their jurisdictions,” he said.
He also urged students in tertiary institutions to remain security conscious and promptly report any security breach or threat to lives and property to the appropriate authorities.
Similarly, former NANS President, Lucky Emonefe, advocated the establishment of a specialised security outfit dedicated to protecting schools, particularly those located in rural communities.
He said the government should complement existing efforts by security agencies through the creation of a dedicated school protection force.
“The criminals are not targeting schools in major cities. Their focus is largely on schools in rural communities where security presence is weak. These institutions should be adequately protected because they have become soft targets,” he said.
Emonefe also called for increased funding and effective implementation of security budgets, insisting that the country must demonstrate greater commitment to tackling insecurity.
“There is poor implementation of security budgets. If we are serious about addressing insecurity, a substantial percentage of annual security allocations must be effectively utilised.”
He urged government to prioritise security above other developmental projects, noting that Nigerians are more concerned about the safety of their children than infrastructure development. “People are demanding security. They want assurance that their children can attend school without fear,” he added.
The former student leader called on the federal and state governments to pay closer attention to the security of schools in rural communities and ensure that local governments take responsibility for identifying and securing vulnerable educational institutions within their areas.
He also appealed to Nigerians to set aside their differences and unite against the growing insecurity across the country. “Insecurity is a common enemy. Government must strengthen its response measures. When citizens see concrete action, they will have greater confidence that authorities are genuinely committed to addressing the challenge,” he said.
