Members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Borno State on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest to condemn the increasing abduction of students and teachers and to demand stronger security measures for schools.
The demonstration, which took place at the Government House and along major streets in Maiduguri, formed part of a nationwide solidarity rally directed by the national leadership of the union. The directive, issued in a circular dated May 29, 2026, instructed all state chapters to mobilise members and draw attention to the growing security threats facing educational institutions across the country.
Leading the rally were the Borno State NUT Secretary, Bako Monguno, and the union’s National Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Tom, who urged authorities to take urgent steps to protect learners and education workers.
Tom said the protest was aimed at amplifying calls for the immediate release of abducted pupils of Mussa Primary and Secondary School in Askira Uba and other victims of school-related attacks.
According to him, access to education is a fundamental right that should not be undermined by insecurity. He stressed that children deserve to learn in a safe environment and called on government at all levels to intensify efforts to rescue those still in captivity.
The state treasurer of the union, Mustapha Usman, criticised what he described as inadequate attention to the plight of abducted children from the Mussa community, noting that the welfare of the victims should be treated as a priority.
Also speaking during the rally, teacher Abdullahi Saidu appealed to security agencies and government authorities to ensure the safe return of every student being held by kidnappers.
Another protester, Ibrahim, expressed concern over the persistent wave of violence across the country, lamenting that students, teachers, travellers and other citizens continue to be targeted by criminal groups.
The demonstrators maintained that the safety of schools must remain a national priority and urged the government to take decisive action to halt the recurring attacks on educational institutions.