Kidnappers are increasingly targeting schools in Nigeria because they are seen as easy and high-impact targets, according to the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN).
The Chairman of NAPTAN’s Board of Trustees, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, said criminals focus on schools because they are often poorly protected, especially in rural areas. He explained that attackers also exploit the emotional weight of schoolchildren abductions, which quickly draw national and international attention and pressure.
He referenced past cases such as the Chibok and Dapchi school kidnappings, noting that the global attention those incidents attracted may be part of why schools remain attractive targets for criminal groups.
Ogunbanjo warned that the aim of the attackers is to spread fear, disrupt education, and possibly force school closures, particularly in communities where Western education is opposed by some armed groups.
As a solution, he urged stronger protection of schools through fencing, controlled entry points, and deployment of security personnel such as the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). He also stressed that the Safe Schools Initiative should be fully implemented and strengthened.
He further noted that while some urban schools are fenced, many rural schools remain exposed due to poor infrastructure and remote locations.
Ogunbanjo also called for the establishment of state police, saying it would improve local security response and help protect vulnerable institutions like schools.
He expressed concern over recent abductions in parts of Oyo State, where some victims have reportedly spent over a month in captivity, and urged urgent efforts to secure their release.
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