More than 52 million pupils and students in Nigeria’s primary and secondary schools face growing uncertainty as worsening insecurity continues to disrupt education across the country.
Frequent attacks on schools, kidnappings of students and teachers, and fears over safety have forced the closure of schools in several communities, raising concerns about access to education for millions of children. The crisis comes as Nigeria already grapples with an estimated 15 million out-of-school children.
More than 80 students and teachers remain in captivity following recent attacks in Oyo and Borno states, prompting nationwide protests by teachers, students and labor groups demanding urgent government action.
According to data from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC), Nigeria has more than 47 million pupils enrolled in basic education and over 5.5 million students in secondary schools. Stakeholders warn that the security crisis threatens the operations of more than 217,000 public and private schools nationwide.
Members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) staged protests across several states, including Oyo, Lagos, Kano, Edo, Taraba, Ogun, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory.
The demonstrations followed a directive issued by the national leadership of the NUT, which called for solidarity rallies to draw attention to growing insecurity in schools.
Speaking at a protest in Abuja, FCT NUT Chairman Abdullahi Shafa said increasing abductions of students and teachers had created fear among learners, parents and education workers while disrupting academic activities.
“Schools should remain safe spaces for learning and development,” Shafa said, urging authorities to strengthen school security, improve intelligence gathering and fully implement the Safe School Initiative.
In Oyo State, NANS President Babatunde Afeez joined protesters demanding the release of abducted students and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area, describing the kidnappers as a common enemy that Nigerians must confront collectively.
The growing insecurity has also drawn criticism from some South-West socio-political and self-determination groups, which accused regional governors of failing to take decisive action against rising cases of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
The groups argued that repeated attacks across Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and parts of Lagos State expose shortcomings in security efforts despite substantial government spending on security.
Spokesman for Yoruba Leaders of Thought, Bayo Aina, said governors in the region have greater capacity to address insecurity than they have demonstrated, warning that continued inaction could endanger the future of the South-West.
Similarly, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency on security. CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh urged authorities to overhaul the nation’s security architecture, improve intelligence gathering and strengthen cooperation among security agencies.
Meanwhile, activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore joined protesters in Abuja, criticizing the government’s handling of insecurity and demanding the immediate rescue of abducted schoolchildren.
In Oyo State, parents of abducted pupils in Yawota community rejected cash donations and relief materials reportedly brought by government officials, insisting that their priority was the safe return of their children.
The crisis has intensified fears that continued attacks on schools could undermine efforts to improve access to education, achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal on quality education and reduce the country’s large population of out-of-school children.
