Teachers Rise In Nationwide Protest As School Abductions Deepen Fear Across Nigeria
Teachers across Nigeria on Tuesday took to the streets in coordinated protests over the repeated abduction of pupils and educators in different parts of the country.
The demonstrations, organised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), spread across states including Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Borno, Kano, Sokoto, Anambra, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Kwara, Adamawa, Taraba and the Federal Capital Territory.
The protests followed renewed outrage after more than 80 students and teachers were abducted in separate attacks in Borno and Oyo States in May.
In Borno, armed men reportedly stormed Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba on May 14, abducting over 40 children. Survivors said the attackers used some of the children as shields while retreating into the bush.
On the same day in Oyo State, gunmen struck multiple schools in the Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota axis, including Baptist Nursery and Primary School and Community Grammar School, abducting pupils and teachers and killing two educators in captivity.
The incidents add to a long chain of school attacks that have continued since the 2014 Chibok abduction that shocked the nation and the world.
Speaking during the Abuja protest, NUT National President, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all abducted victims, warning that education itself was under threat.
“An attack on teachers is an attack on education, and an attack on education is an attack on the future of Nigeria,” he said.
He criticised the Safe Schools Initiative, insisting it has not stopped repeated attacks despite years of implementation.
Across states, teachers echoed the same fear and frustration. In Borno, protesters stormed the Government House demanding urgent rescue operations for abducted victims.
In Kwara, union leaders said schools can no longer be considered safe, while in Kano, educators called for stronger protection so teachers can work without fear.
In Oyo State, some families of abducted victims rejected relief materials offered by officials, insisting only the return of their loved ones mattered.
“We don’t want rice or money. We want our children back,” one community leader said during a visit by government representatives.
Teachers in Lagos, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Enugu, Osun and several other states also joined the protests, warning that schools are becoming unsafe spaces for learning and teaching.
Some branches of the union threatened possible shutdown of schools if the government fails to act decisively on insecurity.
In Ogun State, protesters briefly forced their way into the state secretariat after security operatives attempted to block their march, escalating tensions during the demonstration.
Lawmakers at the federal level also weighed in, with the House of Representatives calling for urgent rescue operations and stronger school security reforms.
The Senate described the situation as a national tragedy, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio warning that the country remains “captive” as long as abducted students remain in captivity.
Meanwhile, government responses have continued to highlight ongoing initiatives such as the Safe Schools programme and newer security strategies, though concerns persist over their effectiveness amid repeated attacks.
Across the country, teachers maintained one message: classrooms cannot survive under fear, and education cannot thrive while schools remain targets.
