The Kogi State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest in Lokoja, calling for urgent action to address the rising cases of schoolchildren abductions and attacks on educational institutions across the country.
The protest, which followed a directive from the national leadership of the union, was aimed at drawing attention to worsening insecurity in schools, including recent abductions reported in Oyo and Borno states.
Addressing participants during the demonstration, the state NUT chairman, Comrade Abayomi Ayoola, expressed deep concern over the repeated targeting of schools by armed groups, describing the situation as alarming and traumatic for teachers and students.
Ayoola said the union was particularly disturbed by recent incidents involving the kidnapping of pupils and teachers, stressing that such attacks were threatening the foundation of education in the country.
“We are deeply worried about the continuous attacks on schools. It is heartbreaking and has created fear among teachers, pupils, and parents,” he said.
He urged the Federal Government to urgently strengthen the country’s security system through improved intelligence gathering, better border surveillance, and enhanced cooperation with international partners to track criminal networks.
According to him, addressing unemployment is also critical in reducing crime, as joblessness continues to push many young people into criminal activities.
“We are appealing to the Federal Government to rejig the security architecture of the country. The persistent kidnappings are traumatic and have cast a shadow of grief over the nation,” Ayoola stated.
The NUT chairman also warned that continued attacks on schools could discourage parents from sending their children to school, thereby undermining efforts to improve access to education nationwide.
“The country must not reach a point where parents are afraid to send their children to school. More jobs should be created, and religious leaders must continue to preach peace and tolerance,” he added.
He further noted that kidnapping has become a growing criminal enterprise, forcing families into difficult decisions as they struggle to secure the release of abducted loved ones.
The protest comes amid heightened concerns over school security following recent abductions in parts of the country, including reported attacks on schools in Oyo State and mass kidnappings in Borno State.
