As kidnappings and killings continue to unsettle schools in parts of the country, the Nigeria Union of Teachers has threatened to shut down schools nationwide if another attack occurs in any educational institution.
The warning follows recent attacks in Oyo State, Borno State and Kebbi State, where teachers and pupils were reportedly abducted or killed.
In Oyo, gunmen attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Community Grammar School and LA Primary School, abducting an estimated 39 pupils and seven teachers, while more than 50 pupils of Mussa Central Primary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno were also reportedly kidnapped.
President of the union, Titus Amba, said teachers could no longer continue to work under life-threatening conditions, warning that the union would direct members to stay away from classrooms if their safety was not guaranteed.
Speaking with The PUNCH, Amba expressed concern over what he described as worsening insecurity around schools, lamenting that incidents of kidnappings, banditry and killings had persisted despite the introduction of the Safe School Initiative.
“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.”
He argued that although the Safe School Initiative was commendable, it had yet to achieve its primary objective of securing schools across the country.
“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 added.
Amba warned that any future attack on schools could force the union to suspend activities in basic education institutions nationwide.
“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. If teachers are not safe where they work, then the system has failed because our schools are endangered,” he stated.
Recalling recent incidents, the NUT president said some teachers and students had been abducted or killed in the course of attacks.
“Teachers are being killed and kidnapped. 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.
He stressed that teachers would not continue reporting to schools if their safety remained uncertain.
“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.”
According to Amba, some abducted victims remain in captivity, prompting the union to direct teachers in vulnerable parts of Oyo State to stay away from schools considered unsafe.
“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 said.
He also called on communities and government authorities to take collective responsibility for protecting schools, teachers and pupils.
“The responsibility of government is to protect lives and property, schools inclusive. 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,” he added.
Credit: ThePunch
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