School abductions must never become normal

By Osikale A. Adetomiwa

The recent abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State is a painful reminder that insecurity remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges. Beyond the immediate trauma suffered by the victims and their families, the incident has once again raised serious concerns about the safety of students, teachers, and educational institutions across the country.

The reaction of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) was necessary and commendable. By speaking out forcefully against the attack, the union drew national attention to the dangers confronting schools and reminded both government and society that educational institutions should be sanctuaries of learning, not theatres of fear.

Education remains one of the most powerful tools for national development. It is through education that societies produce skilled professionals, responsible citizens, and future leaders. However, education can only thrive in an environment where students and teachers feel safe. When schools become targets for kidnappers and criminal elements, the very foundation of national progress is threatened.

Unfortunately, the growing pattern of school abductions across Nigeria has created a climate of anxiety. Parents increasingly worry whenever their children leave home for school. Teachers, whose primary responsibility is to nurture and educate young minds, now find themselves concerned not only about academic performance but also about personal survival. This reality should concern every Nigerian.

The position taken by the NUT reflects more than a labour union’s response to insecurity. It demonstrates a commitment to the welfare of both students and teachers. While some may argue that protests, public statements, or industrial actions can disrupt academic activities, it is important to recognise that meaningful learning cannot take place in an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.

Over the years, attacks on schools in different parts of the country have left deep scars on communities. Students have been abducted, teachers killed, and families devastated. These incidents have damaged public confidence in the educational system and discouraged many young people from pursuing their studies without fear. The consequences extend beyond individual victims.

When schools are attacked, attendance drops, while academic performance suffers. Parents become reluctant to send their children to school, especially in vulnerable communities. In the long run, insecurity contributes to higher dropout rates, increased illiteracy, and a weakened workforce. The impact is not only educational; it is social, economic, and developmental. This is why the government must act decisively.

Protecting schools should be treated as a national security priority. Security presence around educational institutions must be strengthened. Intelligence gathering should be improved, particularly in rural communities where many schools remain exposed to criminal activities. More importantly, those responsible for attacks on schools must be arrested, prosecuted, and punished in accordance with the law.

At the same time, responsibility for school safety should not rest solely on government agencies; communities have a critical role to play. Parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, school administrators, youth groups, and local organisations must collaborate with security agencies to identify potential threats and report suspicious activities before they escalate into tragedies.

Community vigilance remains one of the most effective tools for preventing crime. Perhaps the most crucial lesson from the Oyo incident is that Nigerians must never become comfortable with insecurity. There is a danger in becoming desensitised to reports of kidnappings and abductions. When society begins to accept such incidents as normal, it weakens the collective urgency required to confront them.

School abductions should never become routine headlines. Every attack on a school is an attack on the future of Nigeria. Every child denied the opportunity to learn in a safe environment represents a setback for national development. Every teacher forced to work under the threat of violence is a reminder that much remains to be done.

The NUT intervention highlights the urgent need for stronger security measures and renewed commitment to safeguarding education. If students and teachers are not protected, the nation’s educational aspirations will remain under threat. Nigeria’s future depends on the quality of education it provides today. That future cannot be secured if classrooms become places of fear rather than centres of learning.

The message is clear: school abductions must never be normalised. Government, security agencies, communities, parents, and citizens must work together to ensure that every child can pursue education in a safe and secure environment. Anything less would be a betrayal of the next generation.

Osikale Adetomiwa, a PRNigeria Intern, is a student of Advertising and Public Relations at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja; [email protected]

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