Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor | Journalist at Weng Global
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the Nigerian government over the recent abduction of students and school officials in Kogi State, describing the incident as further evidence of what he called the government’s failure to protect educational institutions and guarantee the safety of Nigerians.
The former presidential candidate expressed deep concern over the growing insecurity affecting schools across the country, arguing that persistent attacks on educational institutions have discouraged learning, undermined public confidence, and placed the future of millions of Nigerian children at risk.
His reaction followed the kidnapping of a school principal and four students who were reportedly writing the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination in Kogi State. The incident has renewed nationwide concerns over the vulnerability of schools despite repeated assurances by security agencies that measures have been put in place to safeguard educational facilities.
Atiku Condemns School Attack
In a statement released through his media office, Atiku condemned the abduction as unacceptable and urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps to rescue the victims while strengthening security around schools across Nigeria.
According to him, education should never become a dangerous undertaking for students, teachers, or school administrators.
He argued that every attack on a school represents not only a security failure but also an assault on Nigeria’s future, stressing that children cannot receive quality education under constant fear of kidnapping, violence, or terrorism.
The former vice president lamented that repeated attacks on schools have become increasingly common, leaving many parents reluctant to send their children to school, particularly in rural communities where security presence remains limited.
‘Government Has Abandoned Education’
Atiku stated that the latest incident reflects what he described as the government’s abandonment of its constitutional responsibility to protect educational institutions.
According to him, governments at all levels must prioritize investments in school security, intelligence gathering, and rapid emergency response systems capable of preventing attacks before they occur.
He maintained that providing classrooms and teachers alone is insufficient if students cannot attend school safely.
The former vice president further argued that insecurity has become one of the greatest threats to educational development, warning that continued attacks could reverse decades of progress in expanding access to education across Nigeria.
Kogi Kidnapping Sparks Fresh Concerns
The kidnapping occurred while students were participating in the ongoing NECO examinations, sending shockwaves across the country.
Reports indicate that armed men invaded the area, abducting the school principal alongside four candidates preparing for or writing the national examination.
Security agencies subsequently launched efforts to locate the victims and secure their safe release.
The attack has intensified calls for stronger protection of schools participating in national examinations, particularly in communities considered vulnerable to criminal activities.
Parents, education stakeholders, and civil society organizations have expressed concern that attacks during examination periods could discourage students from completing their education.
Rising Threat to Education
Nigeria has witnessed numerous attacks on schools over the past several years, particularly in parts of the North-West and North-Central regions.
Kidnappings for ransom have increasingly targeted boarding schools, secondary schools, universities, and colleges, forcing some state governments to temporarily shut down schools or relocate students to safer locations.
Education experts warn that recurring attacks have contributed significantly to rising numbers of out-of-school children.
Many families have become unwilling to enroll their children in schools located in remote communities due to fears of kidnapping.
Others have transferred their children to urban centres despite the financial burden associated with relocation.
Calls for Stronger School Protection
Security analysts have continued to advocate for the full implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative and related programmes designed to strengthen school security nationwide.
Recommended measures include improved perimeter fencing, surveillance technology, increased deployment of trained security personnel, emergency communication systems, and closer collaboration between schools and local communities.
Analysts also emphasize the importance of intelligence-led policing capable of identifying criminal groups before attacks occur.
Education advocates believe stronger community participation remains critical in protecting schools, especially in areas where formal security infrastructure is limited.
Impact on National Development
Experts say insecurity within the education sector carries serious long-term consequences for Nigeria’s economic and social development.
Interrupted education affects workforce development, innovation, national productivity, and poverty reduction efforts.
The psychological trauma experienced by kidnapped students, teachers, and families may also have lasting effects on learning outcomes and mental health.
Development organizations have repeatedly warned that prolonged insecurity could deepen educational inequality, particularly among children in rural and conflict-affected communities.
Public Reactions
Many Nigerians took to social media to express outrage over the latest kidnapping, demanding stronger action against criminal groups responsible for attacks on schools.
Parents’ associations urged authorities to increase security during national examinations, while teachers’ unions called for comprehensive reforms aimed at safeguarding both staff and students.
Several commentators argued that protecting schools should be treated as a national emergency given education’s importance to Nigeria’s future.
Others called for improved coordination among federal, state, and local security agencies to ensure faster responses to intelligence reports and security threats.
Government Yet to Respond to Atiku’s Remarks
As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Government had not officially responded to Atiku Abubakar’s criticism regarding the Kogi school kidnapping.
Security agencies, however, have continued efforts to rescue the abducted principal and students while investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Authorities have consistently maintained that ongoing security operations across the country are aimed at dismantling criminal networks responsible for kidnappings and violent attacks.
A Continuing Challenge
The latest incident once again highlights the persistent security challenges confronting Nigeria’s education sector.
While successive governments have introduced various initiatives to improve school safety, recurring attacks continue to expose significant gaps in implementation and security preparedness.
As investigations continue and rescue efforts intensify, education stakeholders maintain that ensuring safe learning environments must remain a national priority if Nigeria hopes to achieve sustainable educational development and restore public confidence in its schools.
The successful rescue of the victims, combined with long-term investments in school security, will likely determine whether confidence in Nigeria’s educational system can be rebuilt following another disturbing attack.
Sources: Atiku Abubakar Media Office, Nigeria Police Force, Daily Trust, Punch Newspapers, Channels Television, Vanguard News.
