The Nigeria Union of Teachers has threatened to shut down schools across the country if another attack occurs on any educational institution, following a spate of kidnappings and killings involving teachers and pupils in several states.
The warning comes after a series of assaults on schools in Oyo, Borno and Kebbi states, where gunmen abducted pupils and teachers and reportedly killed some victims.
In Oyo State, armed attackers stormed three schools — Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Community Grammar School and LA Primary School — kidnapping an estimated 39 pupils and seven teachers. In Borno state, more than 50 pupils of Mussa Central Primary School in Askira-Uba local government area were also recently abducted.
The president of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Titus Amba, said the union could no longer tolerate what he described as the worsening insecurity around schools, warning that teachers would be directed to stay away from classrooms if their safety could not be guaranteed.
Amba said incidents of banditry, kidnappings and killings had continued despite the introduction of the Safe School Initiative, a federal programme intended to improve security in educational institutions.
“As far as we are concerned, we are still where we are, and of recent, things are beginning to get worse, going by the trend of events in our educational institutions, most especially at the basic education level,” he said.
“This is because the issue of banditry affecting our schools and kidnapping of our students has been so obvious in recent times.”
Amba said the Safe School Initiative had failed to meet its objectives, arguing that schools across the country remained vulnerable to attack.
“The Safe School Initiative was good, but we are not yet there. It has not ensured the security of our schools because pockets of kidnappings, banditry and killings have been going on in Borno and recently in Kebbi and Oyo. It is a thing of concern to stakeholders, most especially leaders of teachers,” he said.
The union leader warned that another attack on a school could trigger a nationwide closure of basic education institutions.
“This is the last time that we will agitate alone. If this should happen again in any of our states, we will have no reason not to shut down the entire basic education system,” Amba said.
“If teachers are not safe where they work, then the system has failed because our schools are endangered.”
He cited recent incidents in Kebbi and Oyo states in which teachers and pupils were abducted and some victims reportedly killed.
“In Kebbi, teachers and students were carted away; the vice principal was killed in the presence of the family. In Oyo, teachers were kidnapped; one was killed, another was beheaded in broad daylight,” he said.
Amba said teachers could not continue working under conditions that endangered their lives.
“We have said a lot of things; we have given warnings to government and if this persists, we will have no alternative but to ask our teachers to stay indoors until their safety at their place of work is guaranteed,” he said.
“If I am aware that if I go to my workplace my life is not guaranteed, I won’t go there. Life first. If there is no life, there will be no work for us to do.”
He also called on Nigerians and local communities to take greater responsibility for the protection of schools.
“Nigerians must be safe, our schools must be well protected, our teachers, students and pupils must be protected. You wouldn’t want to send your ward to school and not have him return home,” he said.
According to Amba, some of the abducted victims remain in captivity.
“As we speak, they are still in the hands of their captors. That is why we have given directives to Oyo State NUT that schools that are in danger of being attacked, all teachers in those areas should remain indoors. No teacher should go to school. That is the instruction we have given.”
He urged communities to work alongside security agencies to safeguard schools, saying: “Every hand should be on deck.”
“The responsibility of government is to protect lives and property, schools included. Lives include those of teachers, students, pupils, and all Nigerians. We all have to rise to make sure that this menace comes to an end.”
