Attack on Education: Stakeholders Demand Urgent Action to Protect Schools

Experts, students seek stronger security measures as Nigeria marks International Day for Protection of Education from Attack

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the International Day for the Protection of Education from Attack, stakeholders in the education sector in Imo State have called for urgent and decisive measures to safeguard schools, teachers and pupils from violence.

Correspondent Chizoba Opara, in this report, sought the views of education experts and students on measures that could help curb the recurring attacks on schoolchildren and teachers across Nigeria.

The stakeholders stressed that every child has the right to learn in a safe and secure environment, warning that attacks on schools not only endanger lives but also threaten the future of education in Nigeria.

Nigeria has continued to witness devastating incidents of school-related violence, including mass abductions, killings and school closures, disrupting education and traumatising communities across several states.

On May 15, 2026, armed men reportedly launched coordinated attacks on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting 46 people, comprising 39 students and seven teachers.

A mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was also reportedly beheaded during the attacks.

On the same day, suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked Mussa Central Primary School in Borno State, abducting dozens of children, some as young as two years old.

Between May and July 2026 alone, no fewer than 124 schoolchildren were reportedly abducted in Oyo, Borno and Zamfara states.

The Federal Ministry of Education condemned the incidents, while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered enhanced protection for schools in high-risk areas and intensified efforts to rescue abducted students and teachers.

Despite these measures, concerns remain over what some stakeholders describe as uneven government responses to attacks on schools.

There are also reports that hundreds of Nigerians, including women and children, remain trapped in terrorist enclaves.

Speaking on the significance of the International Day for the Protection of Education from Attack, an educationist, Dr. Nma Olebara, expressed concern over the recurring cases of kidnapping and killing of schoolchildren and teachers across the country.

Dr. Olebara said the situation had traumatised many parents and children, with some parents now afraid to send their children to school.

She called for sincere, strategic and sustained measures by government to protect Nigerian children from the growing threats of kidnapping and violence.

Another respondent, Mrs. Faith Amara, recommended the deployment of trained security personnel, particularly in high-risk areas, to ensure a rapid response to security threats around schools.

Amara, however, cautioned against permanently stationing heavily armed military personnel within school premises, arguing that such a presence could further traumatise children.

She also called for increased government and community funding for security infrastructure, including perimeter fencing, adequate lighting and CCTV cameras.

Meanwhile, some students who spoke to Radio Nigeria, Miss Chioma and Master Chidubem, called for clear and practical safety plans in schools.

They suggested the establishment of designated evacuation routes, Parent-Teacher Association security task forces and anonymous reporting channels through which students could report suspicious activities without fear.

As Nigeria marks the International Day for the Protection of Education from Attack, stakeholders say stronger collaboration among government, security agencies, communities, parents, teachers and students is urgently needed to protect the education sector.

The message, they say, is clear: no child should have to choose between education and safety, and no teacher should have to risk their life simply for educating the next generation.