Teachers in the Federal Capital Territory, under the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), on Tuesday held a protest in Abuja to decry rising insecurity in schools and call for stronger protection for educators and students nationwide.
The solidarity march began at the Federal Ministry of Education headquarters and proceeded through Area 11, drawing union members, education stakeholders, and supporters who carried placards with messages such as “End Fear in Our Schools,” “Teachers Need Security, Not Threats,” and “Stop Attacks on Education.”
The demonstration, themed “United for Education, Together for Our Future,” was organised in response to recent school attacks in parts of the country, particularly the abduction of pupils in Oyo and Borno states.
Reports indicate that about 82 pupils were kidnapped between May 13 and 15 in separate incidents. In Borno, 42 pupils were taken after armed assailants struck schools in Askira Uba and Chibok LGAs. In Oyo, 40 pupils were abducted during coordinated attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area, including Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School, and L.A. Primary School, Esiele.
The Oyo incident also resulted in the death of a mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, a motorcyclist, and some security personnel during rescue operations.
Speaking during the rally, the FCT NUT Chairman, Abdullahi Shafa, said the action followed directives from the national leadership of the union, which ordered solidarity protests across all states.
He described the killing of educators and repeated attacks on schools as “disturbing and unacceptable,” warning that such incidents threaten the survival of the education sector.
Shafa lamented that a teacher in Oyo State was beheaded, calling the act “horrifying and unjust,” and stressing that educators who dedicate their lives to teaching should not be subjected to violence.
According to him, the growing insecurity has created fear among teachers, especially those working in rural communities, and is gradually denying many children access to education.
“Teachers are everywhere in this country, even in the most remote communities. Targeting them means attacking education itself,” he said.
He urged government authorities to take urgent steps to secure schools by deploying more security personnel, constructing perimeter fences, and improving infrastructure within learning environments.
Shafa added that the rally was a peaceful warning and urged authorities to act decisively to prevent further attacks.
The protest ended with a march to submit a formal letter to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, demanding immediate action to safeguard schools and bring perpetrators of attacks on educational institutions to justice.