Why attacks on schools, abduction of students must end now —Stakeholders

CLEMENT IDOKO writes on the recent surge in attacks on schools and abduction of students and teachers for ransom, with stakeholders making strident call for the Federal Government and security agencies to up their games in providing permanent solution to the menace threatening education and future of young Nigerians.

Experts and critical stakeholders in the education sector have expressed concerns over the recent surge in attacks on schools and kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers by bandits for ransom with far-reaching implications on education and future of young people in Nigeria.

As explained by experts, the fallout of these attacks stretches far beyond the immediate trauma as they have observed that when terrorists attack a school and abduct schoolchildren, parents are likely to pull out their children from school as a result of fear. The development also led to outright closure of some schools by state governments in volatile areas. When this happens, it goes directly to increase the number of out-of-school children in the country.

Nigeria, according to a report by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), is home to over 20 million out-of-school children and adolescents, making the country one of the nations in the world with the highest number of school-age children who are not in school.

Recall that only recently, gunmen attacked the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, Kebbi State and abducted 25 schoolgirls. They were released days after ransom was paid. A few days after the Kebbi incident, bandits abducted 303 children and 12 teachers when they struck Saint Mary’s Catholic School in a remote Papiri area of Niger State. While about 100 of the schoolchildren have regained their freedom, the remaining students are still being held in captivity.

Also, 38 worshippers were taken from a church in Kwara State. Based on reports since 2014, more than 1,680 children have been kidnapped and 180 schools have been attacked.

In response to this ugly development, stakeholders have criticised the Federal Government over poor implementation of the Safe School Initiative, wondering why schools remain vulnerable despite enormous investment and global attention to the Safe School Initiative.

The national president of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Audu Titus Mba, described the resurgence of attacks on schools as disturbing, barbaric and unacceptable, and asked the Federal Government and relevant security agencies to halt the incessant kidnappings and assaults on schools to prevent a collapse of the nation’s education system.

He warned: “These grievous attacks are not only assaults on schools, teachers and learners, but direct blows on the foundation of education and the sustainable development of our nation.

“Classrooms are meant to be sanctuaries for nurturing young minds. The destruction of these learning environments spells doom not just for our children, but for the nation as a whole.”

Mba lamented that recent attacks have forced some schools to close, mortgaging the future of children and exposing the failure of the government to implement the ‘safe schools declaration’ and related policies aimed at protecting schools.

“This unfortunately portrays the failure of the government in implementing the ‘safe schools declaration’ and other related policies meant to strengthen protection of schools in the country.

“We call on both the federal and state governments to ensure that no effort is spared in securing the safe rescue of the abducted students and members of staff, and to strengthen security measures around schools, particularly those in vulnerable areas, to prevent recurrence of such tragic incidents.

“It is said that the socio-economic state of a nation is a direct reflection of the state of its education system. This implies that any distortion or set-back suffered by the education sector has a spiral effect on efforts made by the government towards the growth and development of the nation,” the NUT president stated.

In line with the concern raised by him over the failure of the government to faithfully implement the safe school initiative, the Senate that is equally worried has launched an investigation into the about $30 million raised for the implementation of the programme.

Launched in May 2014 after the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, the safe school initiative is a partnership between the Nigerian government, the United Nations, and the private sector organisations. Subsequently, the initial funding of $10 million grew to over $30 million by 2021, with ₦144 billion earmarked from 2023-2026.

The Senate’s action comes as insecurity surges, particularly in northern Nigeria, where schools remain frequent targets for kidnappers and terrorists. Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc committee probing the Fund’s utilisation, Senator Uzor Kalu, warned that the inquiry would leave no stone unturned.

Stakeholders have also questioned the role being played by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) that is hosting the National Safe School Response Coordination Centre (NSSRCC), a critical component of the implementation strategy of the Safe School Programme in Nigeria.

As explained by an NSCDC official, the establishment of the centre at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) headquarters is in demonstration of government resolve to address the serious challenges of school attacks and its consequences that have thrown a large number of children out of school.

Its mandates include enhancing security for schools and host communities by coordinating with security agencies and stakeholders, receiving and referring complaints, and maintaining emergency hotlines.

The centre is expected to formulate and implement safety and security training, maintain a standby force for quick response to emergencies, and engage with organisations for support. It will also conduct security vulnerability surveys, maintain a security ecosystem map, and share intelligence and situational reports with relevant agencies and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The Commandant General of NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, in conformity with the Corps’ mandate, created a female squad designate for deployment to provide protection to various schools across the country.

Checks by Nigerian Tribune revealed that NSSRCC, in collaboration with security agencies, has successfully foiled some attacks on schools but the centre is generally unable to perform its mandate effectively due to inadequate number of NSCDC officers available for deployment for protection of schools across the country, especially in volatile areas. NSCDC currently has a total of 63,000 officers and men, a figure that is small for deployment to all its areas of coverage.

President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Comrade Olushola Oladoja, said the repeated attacks on educational facilities were a direct strike at the soul of the nation’s future.

He blamed the recent attacks on inefficiency of security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police and the NSCDC that is specifically saddled with the responsibility of coordinating the Federal Government’ safe school initiative.

“For more than a decade, Nigeria has been repeating this cycle of grief-without justice, without decisive reforms, and without the assurance that students in their classrooms are protected

“There is no longer any doubt that Nigeria’s internal security structure has failed in its most fundamental duty to protect the lives of citizens and secure learning environments for our children.

“The safe school initiative, despite enormous funding and repeated government commitments, has remained grossly ineffective.

“Too many schools have fallen victims of terrorists’ attacks under the circumstances of poor coordination, intelligence failure, and leadership complacency,” the NANS president stated.

Executive Director of Education Rights Initiative (ERI), Dr Solomon Udah, talking on the resurgence of attacks on schools and the need to urgently put an end to the menace, said. “Every child kept out of school is a missed opportunity for the country’s economic growth and social stability.”

He said the surge in abductions had turned education into a high-risk venture, calling for stronger implementation of the safe schools initiative and better coordination among security agencies.

“Until the security environment improves, the numbers of out of school children is likely to keep climbing, creating a feedback loop where vulnerable communities become even more susceptible to recruitment by armed groups,” he stated.

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