By Stephen Simon
603 Students, Teachers Kidnapped as Safe Schools Initiative Struggles
No fewer than 603 students and teachers have been kidnapped in seven major school abductions across Nigeria between March 2024 and May 2026, raising fresh concerns over the effectiveness of the Federal Government’s Safe Schools Initiative.
The figure emerged amid worsening insecurity around educational institutions and growing criticism of the N145 billion programme introduced to protect schools following the 2014 abduction of schoolgirls from .
Despite repeated government assurances on improving security in schools, armed groups have continued to target learning institutions across the country, leaving students, teachers and parents increasingly fearful.
Records of reported incidents indicate that schools in Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kogi, Borno and Oyo states were attacked during the period under review, resulting in the abduction of hundreds of students and teachers.
One of the largest incidents occurred on March 7, 2024, when 137 pupils were kidnapped from LEA Primary and Secondary School in Kuriga, Kaduna State. Two days later, another 15 students were abducted from a Tsangaya school in Sokoto State.
In November 2025, gunmen abducted 25 schoolgirls from a secondary school in Kebbi State, while another attack in Niger State saw 303 students and 12 teachers taken from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri before they were later rescued.
Additional attacks were reported in Kogi, Borno and Oyo states, where dozens more students and teachers were kidnapped.
The Safe Schools Initiative was designed to strengthen security around schools through improved infrastructure, surveillance systems and community-based protection measures. The programme, scheduled to run between 2023 and 2026, was projected to cost about N144.8 billion.
However, officials familiar with the programme acknowledged that funding constraints and implementation challenges have slowed progress.
A senior government official, who requested anonymity, said several states had yet to fully embrace the initiative despite ongoing consultations with state governments and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
Education stakeholders have attributed the persistent attacks to inadequate security infrastructure in schools.
The National President of the Parent-Teacher Association, Haruna Danjuma, accused governments at all levels of failing to adequately prioritise the safety of schoolchildren and education workers.
According to him, many public schools continue to operate without perimeter fencing, surveillance facilities or trained security personnel.
“Our schools remain vulnerable.
Teachers are being killed and students kidnapped, yet there is little evidence that enough is being done to protect them,” he said.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) also expressed concern over the growing wave of attacks, warning that meaningful learning cannot take place in an unsafe environment.
NUT President, , said schools had become attractive targets for kidnappers and bandits, urging governments to take urgent measures to safeguard students and teachers.
“If this situation continues, we may have no choice but to shut down schools because the safety of teachers and students must come first,” he warned.
Human rights organisation also criticised the implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative, arguing that bureaucratic delays and allegations of corruption had undermined its effectiveness.
According to the organisation, insecurity has forced several northern states to close schools indefinitely, disrupting the education of thousands of children.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has backed the NUT’s concerns and warned that it could mobilise solidarity actions if governments fail to address the worsening security situation.
NLC President, , described the recurring abductions as a national tragedy and called for immediate action to secure the release of all kidnapped students and teachers.
Security analyst Chidi Omeje described the scale of the abductions as “staggering,” warning that attacks on schools have evolved from isolated incidents into a disturbing national pattern.
He said the continued targeting of educational institutions poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s education sector and long-term development.
Amid mounting concerns, student groups, political organisations and civil society bodies have intensified calls for stronger security measures, while the National Association of Nigerian Students has announced plans for protests demanding the rescue of abducted schoolchildren.
Stakeholders insist that without urgent and coordinated action, schools across the country may remain vulnerable to criminal attacks, placing the future of thousands of Nigerian children at risk.
