By Our Correspondent
The National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Audu Titus Amba, has expressed deep concern over the growing insecurity affecting schools across Nigeria, warning that persistent attacks on educational institutions, teachers and students could undermine the country’s quest for quality education and national development.
Amba raised the alarm while speaking with journalists in Jalingo at the weekend, where he called on government at all levels and security agencies to take urgent and decisive measures to protect schools and restore confidence in the nation’s education system.
According to the NUT president, the increasing incidents of violence, kidnappings and killings linked to schools have created fear among teachers, students and parents, thereby threatening the smooth delivery of education across the country.
He noted that parents enroll their children in schools with the hope that they will acquire knowledge, develop their talents and secure a better future, stressing that such aspirations can only be achieved in a peaceful and secure learning environment.
Amba warned that no meaningful educational progress can be recorded in an atmosphere where learners and teachers constantly live under the threat of attacks.
“If the safety of learners and teachers cannot be guaranteed, then the nation’s educational development is at risk,” he stated.
The labour leader questioned the rationale behind attacks on innocent school children and teachers, describing the trend as disturbing and unacceptable.
He wondered why criminals would target individuals whose primary mission is to teach, learn and contribute positively to society, noting that schools should remain safe havens for learning rather than becoming centres of fear and insecurity.
Amba said the NUT, as the umbrella body representing teachers nationwide, could not remain silent while its members continue to face security challenges in the course of their duties.
According to him, the union has a responsibility to speak on matters affecting the welfare, safety and well-being of teachers and to advocate policies that will ensure a conducive environment for effective teaching and learning.
The NUT president reminded government that the protection of lives and property remains one of its fundamental constitutional responsibilities.
He therefore urged federal, state and local authorities to strengthen security architecture around schools, improve intelligence gathering and ensure that perpetrators of attacks on educational institutions are apprehended and prosecuted.
Amba cited recent security incidents in Borno, Oyo and Kogi states as clear indications that schools remain vulnerable to attacks by criminal elements.
He particularly referenced the killing of two teachers during the conduct of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examinations, describing the incident as tragic and a painful reminder of the dangers confronting education workers in some parts of the country.
He maintained that such incidents not only affect teachers and students directly but also discourage educational participation and weaken efforts aimed at improving learning outcomes nationwide.
The NUT leader strongly condemned the activities of bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups responsible for attacks on schools and communities, lamenting the increasing loss of innocent lives across the country.
“People are being killed indiscriminately as if they were animals,” he lamented.
While calling for stronger government intervention, Amba emphasized that security should not be left to government alone, describing it as a collective responsibility that requires the active participation of all citizens.
He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and support security agencies with timely and credible information that could assist in preventing criminal activities and protecting lives and property.
According to him, effective collaboration between communities, traditional institutions, security agencies and government authorities is crucial to addressing the security challenges facing the nation.
The NUT president further stressed that ensuring the safety of teachers and students remains essential to sustaining progress in the education sector and securing the future of Nigeria’s younger generation.
He warned that unless urgent action is taken to address insecurity in and around schools, gains recorded in the education sector could be eroded, with far-reaching consequences for national development.
Amba therefore called for renewed commitment from all stakeholders to safeguard educational institutions and guarantee a secure environment where teaching and learning can thrive without fear or disruption.