The National Association of Nigerian Students has raised concerns over the rising wave of insecurity in the country, lamenting that attacks on schools are putting the future of the nation’s children and its education system at serious risk.
The lamentation comes after a series of violent attacks, leading to the abduction of 25 schoolgirls from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, during which the vice-principal was also killed.
Some Armed men earlier today, stormed St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, and abducted students and staff of the institution.
NANS in a statement issued on Friday, by its National Public Relations Officer, Adeyemi Ajasa, expressed “profound sorrow and grave concern” over the growing attacks on schools, describing them as “deliberate and strategic offensives by criminal elements seeking to induce widespread educational displacement and institutional breakdown.”
NANS however warned that the constant threat of violence is forcing students into choosing a choice between education and personal safety, calling put on both the Federal Government and security agencies to put a lasting end to the menace.
“These incidents have forced countless students into a distressing dilemma: the need to choose between the pursuit of education and the preservation of personal safety. Such a reality is unacceptable in any civilized society, and its continuation threatens the stability, development, and global standing of Nigeria,” the statement read.
“To the Federal Government: The era of piecemeal interventions and reactionary measures must end. The government must demonstrate unequivocal political will by dismantling the operational networks, funding channels, and logistical lifelines of terror groups. NANS demands immediate, large-scale investments in modern surveillance systems, fortified community-based security frameworks, and the implementation of comprehensive rural protection policies. The unconditional rescue and reintegration of every abducted student must stand as an urgent national priority.
While NANS mourns the loss of innocent lives, Ajasa prays for the safe return of abducted students and citizens, emphasizing the association’s commitment to ongoing dialogue with all relevant stakeholders.
