The National President, National Association of Nigerian Students, Olushola Oladoja has lamented the failure of Nigeria’s internal security structure to protect citizens and ensure safe learning environments.
Oladoja in a statement issued on Wednesday, stated that the Safe School Initiative had remained ineffective despite huge funding and repeated government promises, blaming the nation’s security agencies for not doing enough to prevent terrorists from repeatedly attacking schools in the country.
Oladoja lamented that for more than 10 years, the nation had witnessed a “cycle of grief” without justice, reform, or assurances that students were safe in their classrooms.
The statement partly read, “Too many schools had fallen to terrorists under circumstances that pointed to poor coordination, intelligence lapses, and leadership complacency.”
“The failure of these offices to coordinate intelligence, enforce preventive security, and protect defenceless students is unacceptable,” he said.
Referencing the recent Kebbi school attack, the NANS President expressed worries over possible internal sabotage, noting that terrorists struck minutes after a reported military withdrawal.
Oladoja charged the National Security Adviser, Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, and Service Chiefs to set up a high-level investigation panel to probe alleged insider collaboration.
He said, “The panel must examine security lapses, command failures, and reasons for repeated troop withdrawals shortly before major attacks.”
He stated that students nationwide were demanding accountability and a clear, verifiable plan to secure schools, including an immediate overhaul of the Safe School Initiative, warning that failure to act would force NANS to begin nationwide civil disobedience, including shutting down highways and airports, as well as peaceful mass demonstrations.
“We can no longer stand by while terrorists destroy what remains of our education system. The era of silence is over”
“NANS stands united, resolute, and ready to defend the Nigerian student identity—by dialogue if possible, and by mass civil action if necessary,” he added.
Northern Nigeria has recently witnessed another uptick in attacks on educational institutions, leading several state governments to close schools temporarily.
On Monday, armed attackers raided the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, located in Kebbi State’s Danko/Wasagu area, abducting at least 24 schoolgirls and killing the vice-principal.
Just days later, on Friday, gunmen attacked St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State, where Hundreds of students and staff were seized during the incident, although 50 students have since escaped.
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