The Nigeria Union of Teachers has threatened to shut down schools across the country if another attack occurs in any school, following the recent wave of kidnappings and killings involving teachers and pupils in parts of the country.
There have been attacks on schools in Oyo, Borno and Kebbi resulting in killings and abduction of teachers and pupils.
Gunmen brazenly attacked three Oyo schools (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 in Borno were also recently kidnapped.
The President of the NUT, Titus Amba, said the union could no longer tolerate the growing insecurity around schools, warning that teachers would be directed to stay away from classrooms if their safety could not be guaranteed.
Speaking with The PUNCH, Amba, who expressed concern over the worsening security situation in schools, lamented that incidents of banditry, kidnappings and killings had continued despite the Safe School Initiative introduced to protect educational institutions.
He said, “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.
“This is because the issue of banditry affecting our schools and kidnapping of our students has been so obvious in recent times.”
He said the Safe School Initiative had failed to achieve its objective of securing 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 the next attack on any school could trigger a nationwide shutdown of basic education schools.
“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,” Amba stated.
He cited recent incidents in Kebbi and Oyo states where teachers and students were abducted, while some victims were 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 said Nigerians must collectively demand improved security around schools and communities.
“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.
“You would not want to hear that your son, daughter or brother who is a teacher has been kidnapped or killed.”
According to him, some abducted victims were still being held by their captors.
“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.
Amba also called on communities to take ownership of the security of schools in their areas.
“Community leaders, everyone, including communities, it is your responsibility to see how you will safeguard those schools. Every hand should be on deck,” he added.
“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.”
