Red Alert In Schools: NUT, ANCOPSS, AFED, NANS, others express concern over insecurity
RED ALERT IN SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE
NUT, ANCOPSS, AFED, NANS, others express concern over insecurity
By Ndukaku Ihe
Schools have been put on red alert over the safety of teachers and pupils following the wide spread wave of abductions and kidnappings in some states.
AbeyaNews gathered that stakeholders have demanded drastic action from the federal and state governments to tackle the security challenges even as some parents have withdrawn their wards until the situation is brought under control in vulnerable areas.
The Secretary, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State chapter, Mr. Gbenga Aiyetoba, said the biggest challenge facing the teaching profession is insecurity, which has lead to kidnapping of members and pupils.
“The current challenge in our school system is abduction of teachers and children. The killing of our members is unacceptable. Our schools are no longer safe for teaching and learning.
“Oyo State schools have been shut and we have told government that if nothing is done, schools nationwide will be closed. Our national leaders have communicated this to the government,’’ Aiyetoba said..
President of All Nigeria Confederation of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Mr. Masheyi Abayomi, said teachers are facing many challenge and that a nation whose future leaders are in the forest is doomed already. A nation where teachers are afraid to go to school is doomed.
Abayomi blamed the government for the current situation and that they are not doing enough to tackle the abduction of teachers and pupils.
“We visited the school in Oyo, there is no fence. Safety is the biggest problem in our schools. We need government action to tackle the security challenge. We are moving to a dangerous situation.
“Hope we will not get to a situation when principals and teachers will come to schools with weapons to protect themselves,’’ Abayomi stated.
The Nigerian Brewery Plc, Director of Corporate Affairs, Uzodinma Odenigbo at the 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year called on the government and other stakeholders to ensure that schools are safe and secure for learning, adding, “we look forward to the swift return of those kidnapped in Oyo and Borno states.”
In his reaction, National President, Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), Orji Kanu Emmanuel, said it seems there is red Alert in schools and asked if teachers and pupils were safe.
His words: “The Red Alert is not an exaggeration. It is alarming to say the least. Our schools have become central targets for kidnappers, bandits, terrorists, and other non-state actors. It is sad and I am worried because this has turned into a lucrative commercial venture for perpetrators who remain largely unchecked.
“No, teachers and pupils are not safe enough. When fear replaces focus in the classroom, learning stops. Safety is not just the absence of attack; it is the presence of confidence. That confidence is missing today.”
According to him, school owners cannot fold our arms and are advised to do the little that they can by putting perimeter fencing and gated entry, adding, “a school without a fence is exposed.’’
He called for community collaboration by asking question on any unauthorized movement around the school and urged the owners to work with PTA, vigilantes, and community leaders for intelligence sharing.
The educationist recommend that schools have direct line to the nearest police station, local hunters, and vigilante group and also run drills with pupils and staff so everyone knows what to do.
“ Shutting down schools means absolute surrender. It means ceding governance and sovereignty to enemies. “One child out of school is one child for the street” – and for recruitment by criminals.
“Instead of closure, we need targeted protection. If a specific school has credible threat, relocate pupils temporarily and deploy security. But closing schools nationwide hands victory to terrorists. Education must not stop because criminals are active,” he stated.
Orji said government appears hapless while the situation deteriorates by the day and advised the administration to declare a state of emergency on school security, not the kind we have heard that changed nothing.
He added: “This is not just a security problem. It is an existential threat to Nigeria’s future. We cannot build a nation while our children learn in fear. The time for excuses is over. The time for action is now.”
Pan Africa University, Lagos in a security advisory to staff and students said the institution has received reports of security-related concerns within the Ibeju-Lekki axis.
The memo reads: “While normal activities are expected to continue as usual, all members of the community are advised to remain vigilant and exercise caution in their daily movements. The university is actively monitoring the situation and will communicate further updates and guidance as developments warrant.”
The university management advised staff and students to stay alert and be mindful of their surroundings and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate security authorities promptly.
The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, advocated the full implementation of local government autonomy, arguing that it would enable grassroots authorities to play a more active role in tackling insecurity.
According to him, local governments would be better positioned to recruit and equip security personnel to protect their communities if they had greater financial independence.
He said many of the communities targeted by criminals are often areas that receive little attention from state and federal authorities. “If local governments are financially empowered, they will be better equipped to respond to these criminals and strengthen security within their jurisdictions,” he said.
He also urged students in tertiary institutions to remain security conscious and promptly report any security breach or threat to lives and property to the appropriate authorities.
Also speaking, Mr. Chinonso Obasi, Executive Director of the African Students Education Support Initiative (ASESI), strongly condemned the recent abduction of schoolchildren, describing it as a tragic reflection of worsening insecurity and a failure of leadership at various levels of government.
He expressed concern that innocent children continue to be targeted while pursuing their education, noting that repeated attacks on schools and the prolonged captivity of students have weakened public confidence in the nation’s ability to protect its citizens.
Similarly, former NANS President, Comrade Lucky Emonefe, advocated the establishment of a specialised security outfit dedicated to protecting schools, particularly those located in rural communities.
Commenting on the recent abduction in Oyo State, he said the government should complement existing efforts by security agencies through the creation of a dedicated school protection force.
“The criminals are not targeting schools in major cities. Their focus is largely on schools in rural communities where security presence is weak. These institutions should be adequately protected because they have become soft targets,” he said.
Emonefe also called for increased funding and effective implementation of security budgets, insisting that the country must demonstrate greater commitment to tackling insecurity.
