The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Director of the National Education Summit, Prof Adams Agahiu, have expressed deep concern over the escalating insecurity and attacks on schools across Nigeria, warning that this trend poses a grave threat to the nation's future.
CAN President's Statement on Children's Day
In a message marking the 2026 Children's Day, CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh stated that persistent attacks on schools, coupled with worsening social conditions, continue to endanger children and erode public confidence. He highlighted the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State as a stark reminder of the dangers confronting students and schools nationwide. Okoh noted that the continued captivity of some victims has left families traumatized and communities shaken, while repeated attacks have inflicted lasting emotional scars.
“No child should live in fear or face violence in schools meant to provide learning, safety, and hope. The thought of teachers facing fear and uncertainty alongside the children they were trying to protect should weigh heavily on the nation’s conscience,” he said. The CAN president emphasized that a society where parents fear sending their children to school cannot claim to be securing its future. He urged governments and security agencies to make the protection of schools and children an urgent national priority.
Call for State Police
Similarly, Prof Adams Agahiu called on the National Assembly to fast-track the passage of the bill seeking the establishment of state police in Nigeria to strengthen efforts against insecurity. Speaking in an interview, he argued that the creation of state police would enhance the fight against insurgency, kidnapping, and other violent crimes affecting communities nationwide. According to him, local policing would improve security because recruits from the states possess better knowledge of the terrain, culture, and movement within their communities.
“State policing is one of the best solutions for Nigeria’s security challenges because local recruits understand their environment and can easily identify suspicious activities before criminals strike,” he said. Agahiu also acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's continued commitment to restoring security through ongoing military operations and other strategic interventions aimed at curbing terrorism and extra-judicial killings.
Army Chief Orders Intensified Operations
In a related development, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, charged troops of the Joint Task Force North Central, Operation Savannah Shield (OPSS), to intensify ongoing operations to decisively rout kidnappers, bandits, and other criminal elements threatening peace and security in the region. The COAS gave the charge while addressing troops at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, JTF North-Central OPSS, in Kwara State.
Waidi vowed that the Nigerian Army remains resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops have sustained operational momentum to deny criminal elements the freedom to terrorize innocent citizens, infiltrate communities, or undermine national security. In a statement, Army spokesperson Col. Appolonia Anele said the army chief assured troops that requisite combat enablers and operational resources are being deployed to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
