Nigeria is “a nation under siege”, the Nigerian Academy of Education (NAE) has warned, as escalating attacks on schools plunge the country into a deepening education and security crisis.
In a blistering statement signed by Emeritus Professor Olugbemiro Jegede, FNAE, President, and Prof. Chris Chukwurah, MNAE, Secretary General of the Academy, following the abduction of students from St Mary’s School in Niger State, the academy said 92 school invasions, 2,500 abducted learners, over 180 children killed, and 1 million too afraid to attend school paint a portrait of a nation failing its young.
“These figures represent shattered dreams and grieving families,” the NAE said. “Classrooms have become battlegrounds.”
‘Government efforts amount to lip service’
While the government has unveiled several initiatives—including the Safe Schools Declaration and a multibillion-naira safety plan, the academy said these measures have failed to halt mass abductions or restore confidence. Large parts of the North East and Middle Belt remain exposed, and schools continue to shut down.
The NAE accused authorities of neglecting their constitutional duty to protect lives, warning that abandoned policies and weak implementation have created a “false sense of security”.
With trauma, economic ruin and a fading future that accompany killings and kidnappings, children and teachers are battling severe trauma, nightmares, anxiety, and fear that cripples learning. Teachers, described as “unsung victims”, face daily threats that push many out of the profession.
The economic fallout is severe: more than 11,500 schools in the north have closed since 2020, placing 3 million children at risk of dropping out and eroding Nigeria’s human capital.
“When education collapses, national development collapses with it,” the academy warned.
NAE demands decisive action as it called for immediate and coordinated security measures, accountability for perpetrators, community-level protection, medical and psychological support for victims, and an overhaul of all existing safety frameworks.
“If Nigeria fails to protect its schools, it fails to protect its future,” the NAE said. “The time for rhetoric is over—the time for results is now.”
