The National Association of Nigerian (NANS) Students has stated that Nigeria’s internal security system has failed in its primary responsibility of protecting citizens and ensuring safe learning environments.
The NANS National President, Olushola Oladoja, said the Safe School Initiative had remained ineffective despite huge funding and repeated government promises, according to a statement by him on Wednesday.
Oladoja lamented that for more than 10 years, the nation had witnessed a ‘cycle of grief’ without justice, reform, or assurances that students were safe in their classrooms.
The statement partly read, ‘Too many schools had fallen to terrorists under circumstances that pointed to poor coordination, intelligence lapses, and leadership complacency’.
He blamed the police leadership for what he described as a broad internal security collapse that had emboldened terrorists to repeatedly attack schools.
‘The failure of these offices to coordinate intelligence, enforce preventive security, and protect defenceless students is unacceptable’, he said.
Oladoja warned that Nigeria must stop ‘rewarding incompetence’, in matters affecting lives and national stability.
Referencing the recent Kebbi school attack, he said NANS was worried about possible internal sabotage, noting that terrorists struck minutes after a reported military withdrawal.
He urged the National Security Adviser, Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, and Service Chiefs to set up a high-level investigation panel to probe alleged insider collaboration.
He said, ‘The panel must examine security lapses, command failures, and reasons for repeated troop withdrawals shortly before major attacks’.
Oladoja said students nationwide were demanding accountability and a clear, verifiable plan to secure schools, including an immediate overhaul of the Safe School Initiative.
He warned that failure to act would force NANS to begin nationwide civil disobedience, including shutting down highways and airports, as well as peaceful mass demonstrations.
‘We can no longer stand by while terrorists destroy what remains of our education system. The era of silence is over’, he said.
Oladoja said Nigeria was at a crossroads and stressed that securing students was non-negotiable.
‘NANS stands united, resolute, and ready to defend the Nigerian student identity—by dialogue if possible, and by mass civil action if necessary’, he added.
Northern Nigeria has recently witnessed another uptick in attacks on educational institutions, leading several state governments to close schools temporarily.
On Monday, armed attackers raided the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, located in Kebbi State’s Danko/Wasagu area, abducting at least 24 schoolgirls and killing the vice-principal.
Just days later, on Friday, gunmen attacked St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State. Hundreds of students and staff were seized during the incident, although 50 students have since escaped.
