The Nigeria Union of Teachers has issued a stark warning to the federal government, threatening to initiate a nationwide strike if immediate action is not taken to halt the escalating attacks on educational institutions across the country. The union has described the current situation as a national emergency that threatens the very foundation of Nigeria's education system.
A Decade of Violence and Government Inaction
Speaking at a press briefing, NUT President Comrade Audu Amba expressed the union's profound distress over the recent brutal attacks. He highlighted two specific incidents that have shaken the education community: the killing of a vice principal and a security guard, along with the abduction of 25 female students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State. Furthermore, he detailed the kidnapping of more than 300 pupils and 12 staff members from St. Mary’s Catholic Schools in Papiri, Niger State.
Amba criticized what he termed years of government inaction, recounting a tragic history of mass abductions that have plagued the nation. "These barbaric attacks are unacceptable," Amba stated. "We call on the Federal Government to bring these attacks to an end to prevent the total collapse of the education system."
Schools Remain Soft Targets
The union president presented a chilling timeline of mass kidnappings that have instilled public fear over the last ten years, demonstrating a persistent pattern where schools are targeted. Key incidents cited include:
- The abduction of 276 girls from Chibok in 2014.
- The seizure of 110 schoolgirls in Dapchi in 2018.
- The kidnapping of 39 students from Kaduna Forestry College in 2021.
- The taking of about 200 students from GSS Jangebe in Zamfara that same year.
- The kidnapping of 128 students and 44 staff of Zamfara College of Agriculture in 2021.
- The abduction of 121 students from Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna.
- The March 2024 kidnapping of 287 pupils in Kuriga.
Amba emphasized that this is not merely a series of isolated incidents but a direct assault on the entire foundation of education and sustainable development in Nigeria. The constant attacks have forced numerous schools in high-risk areas to shut down, depriving thousands of children of their right to learning and creating a generation at risk.
An Ultimatum for Safety and Security
The NUT has placed significant blame on the government for the slow implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration, a plan they deem critical for protecting classrooms. The union is now demanding intensified efforts to rescue all abducted students and staff and the immediate strengthening of security perimeters around schools, particularly in vulnerable states.
Issuing a final ultimatum, Comrade Audu Amba warned, "If these deadly attacks continue, the union will have no option but to direct all teachers to stay away from classrooms until their safety is guaranteed." This potential withdrawal of teachers would represent a drastic escalation in the union's response to the ongoing crisis of insecurity in Nigerian schools.
