The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) is sounding the alarm on the terrifying spike in school abductions that is sweeping the nation. In a dramatic statement from President Olushola Oladoja, the organization didn't hold back in blaming the Nigerian government for its inability to shield its citizens,especially students,from the rampant violence plaguing educational institutions.
Oladoja slammed the government’s Safe School Initiative, which, despite receiving hefty funding, has produced dismal results. He painted a bleak picture of a nation ensnared in a "cycle of grief" for over ten years, with no justice or safety for students who simply want to learn.
“Terrorists have targeted too many schools due to sheer incompetence in coordination and glaring lapses in intelligence,” Oladoja declared, clearly pointing fingers at police leadership. This raises serious questions about their capabilities in protecting our most vulnerable populations,our students.
“The failure of these offices to coordinate intelligence, enforce preventive security, and protect defenseless students is unacceptable,” Oladoja insisted, demanding a radical reassessment of the current security strategies. But will anyone listen?
The urgency of the situation has intensified, especially following alarming incidents like the recent attack in Kebbi State, where the timing of terrorist strikes just after military withdrawals suggests a chilling possibility of internal sabotage. Oladoja urgently called for high-ranking officials, including the National Security Adviser and Minister of Defence, to launch an investigation into these grave security oversights that have allowed such attacks to unfold.
“We need to uncover the truth about these security lapses and command failures,” he emphasized, underscoring the necessity for transparency and accountability. Yet, skepticism looms,will this be just another investigation that leads nowhere?
Oladoja has made it clear: a comprehensive and verifiable plan to secure schools is non-negotiable. He demanded an immediate overhaul of the Safe School Initiative, warning that without concrete actions, NANS would resort to drastic measures, including civil disobedience and mass protests. “We will not stand idly by while terrorists wreak havoc on our education system,” he proclaimed, signaling a readiness to disrupt the status quo.
“The era of silence is over,” he asserted, stressing the critical need to prioritize student safety. NANS is taking a stand,united and relentless, ready to defend the rights of Nigerian students either through dialogue or through mass civil action. But can this movement really effect change?
The situation is dire: the surge of assaults on educational institutions has forced several state governments to temporarily close schools. Just recently, armed militants raided the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi, snatching at least 24 girls and tragically killing the vice-principal. In another shocking attack, gunmen stormed St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Niger State, abducting hundreds, while only a handful managed to escape.
As the crisis deepens, the call for immediate reform in Nigeria's security framework is louder than ever. The safety of students and the future of education are hanging by a thread, and the time for decisive action is now,or is it just another hollow cry for help?
