• NUT warns attacks on schools threaten Nigeria’s educational future
• Ogun teachers seek immediate implementation of Safe School Standards
Olayinka Akinpelu
Teachers across Ogun State on Tuesday joined a nationwide protest organised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), demanding the immediate release of abducted teachers and pupils and stronger security measures to protect schools across the country.
The peaceful demonstration, held at the Governor’s Office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, was part of a coordinated action directed by the national leadership of the union following a recent attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Addressing protesters, Ogun State NUT Chairman, Sewakanu Noah Oladipupo, described the worsening insecurity in schools as a direct threat to Nigeria’s education system and the future of its children.
Speaking on behalf of more than 20,000 teachers in public primary and secondary schools across Ogun State, Oladipupo said schools that should serve as safe centres of learning have increasingly become targets for kidnappers, bandits and terrorists.
“Education is the bedrock of any nation. But today in Nigeria, that bedrock is shaking. Teachers wake up daily not knowing if they will return home. Pupils go to school not knowing if they will be in class by closing time or in the bush with captors,” he said.
The protest comes amid growing concerns over attacks on educational institutions in several parts of the country. According to the union, the latest incident in Oriire Local Government Area involved armed men invading schools during school hours, killing teachers and abducting pupils and education workers.
The NUT chairman said the incident had pushed teachers nationwide to a breaking point, noting that attacks on schools have created widespread fear among teachers, parents and pupils.
“Our anger was pushed to the limit by the recent coordinated attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. Armed men invaded classrooms in broad daylight. They killed teachers in front of their pupils. They abducted innocent children and marched them into the forest,” he said.
He warned that the consequences of continued insecurity in schools extend beyond the immediate victims, stressing that declining school attendance and growing fear among teachers and parents could undermine educational development.
“The psychological trauma is deep. In many schools across Ogun today, attendance has dropped. Teachers are afraid. Parents are keeping children at home. When schools close out of fear, then insecurity has already won. Nigeria cannot afford that,” Oladipupo added.
The union presented four key demands to the Federal and State Governments, describing them as non-negotiable measures necessary to safeguard education in Nigeria.
Foremost among the demands is the unconditional and immediate release of all teachers and pupils currently held in captivity across the country.
The union also called for visible and adequate security presence in schools, including deployment of armed police officers, personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, community vigilantes and the installation of surveillance systems where feasible.
In addition, the teachers demanded the urgent implementation of the Federal Government’s Safe School Initiative and Safe School Standards, which were introduced to strengthen security infrastructure in schools.
According to the union, schools should be equipped with perimeter fencing, secure gates, emergency exits, adequate lighting and emergency response systems, while teachers should receive regular safety and emergency preparedness training.
The NUT further urged governments at all levels to ensure that classrooms do not become targets of violent attacks, insisting that education must be protected as a constitutional right and a critical national asset.
Addressing the Ogun State Government directly, Oladipupo said teachers remained committed partners in the state’s development but expected stronger assurances regarding their safety.
“We teach your children, you must protect our lives,” he said, calling on the state government to provide clear timelines for implementing enhanced security measures in schools.
The union also appealed to the Federal Government to increase funding for education and security while treating attacks on schools as acts of terrorism requiring swift investigation and prosecution.
Oladipupo urged parents and members of the public to support the teachers’ campaign, noting that quality education cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear.
“A teacher under threat cannot teach effectively. A child in fear cannot learn effectively. Our fight is your fight,” he said.
He warned that while the protest remained peaceful, the union would continue to press its demands until concrete action is taken.
“The greatest legacy any government can leave is a generation of educated, safe and confident children. But that legacy dies when schools become graveyards,” he stated.
The NUT chairman thanked security agencies, including the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Department of State Services, for maintaining order during the protest. He also commended media organisations for drawing attention to the plight of teachers and pupils affected by insecurity.
The demonstration ended peacefully at the Governor’s Office, with teachers carrying placards and calling on authorities to take urgent steps to secure schools and ensure the safe return of abducted education workers and pupils.
The protest formed part of a nationwide campaign by teachers demanding stronger protection for educational institutions amid persistent security challenges facing communities across Nigeria.
