NUT President Titus Amba Says Rising Insecurity in Schools May Force Nationwide Shutdown

 Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has threatened to shut down schools across the country if another attack occurs in any school, following the increasing wave of kidnappings and killings involving teachers and pupils in different parts of Nigeria.

Recent attacks in Oyo, Borno, and Kebbi states have left several teachers and pupils abducted or killed, raising fresh concerns about the safety of schools nationwide.

 Oyo State, gunmen reportedly attacked three schools — Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Community Grammar School, and LA Primary School — abducting about 39 pupils and seven teachers. Similarly, more than 50 pupils of Mussa Central Primary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State were recently kidnapped.

Speaking on the disturbing trend, NUT President, Titus Amba, said the union could no longer tolerate the growing insecurity around schools, warning that teachers may be directed to stay away from classrooms if their safety cannot be guaranteed.

According to him, the worsening security situation has continued despite the introduction of the Safe School Initiative aimed at protecting educational institutions across the country.

“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,” Amba said.

“This is because the issue of banditry affecting our schools and kidnapping of our students has been so obvious in recent times.”

The NUT president lamented that the Safe School Initiative had failed to fully achieve its objective of safeguarding schools nationwide.

“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 trigger a nationwide shutdown of basic education institutions.

“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.

He further cited incidents in Kebbi and Oyo states where teachers and students were abducted and some victims reportedly killed.

“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.

Amba stressed that teachers would not continue to work under life-threatening conditions.

“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.”

The NUT president also called on Nigerians and host communities to take active responsibility in protecting schools and ensuring the safety of teachers and students.

“Nigerians must be safe, our schools must be well protected, our teachers, students and pupils must be protected. You wouldn’t want to send your ward to school and not have him return home,” he said.

Amba revealed that some abducted victims were still being held by their captors, adding that the union had already instructed teachers in vulnerable areas of Oyo State to remain indoors.

“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 stated.

He concluded by urging government, community leaders, and security agencies to work together to end attacks on schools and protect the nation’s education system.

“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 said.