The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State Wing, has raised serious concerns over rising insecurity in schools, warning that pupils and teachers remain highly vulnerable to attacks across the country.
Speaking during an interview on Trade FM’s Business Breakfast Briefing, the State Deputy Chairman of the NUT in Lagos, Comrade Odewande Samuel, said recent kidnappings of pupils and teachers in Oyo and Borno States triggered the union’s mass protest after repeated calls for government action went unanswered.
He explained that the union had earlier issued a time frame for authorities to secure the release of abducted victims, but after nearly two weeks without meaningful progress, teachers were left with no option but to take to the streets in protest.
According to Comrade Samuel, the continued abduction of schoolchildren, including nursery pupils, has deepened fear within the education sector, adding that the teaching profession itself has now become increasingly unsafe. He referenced past security training initiatives in schools involving security outfits and labour unions, noting that such programmes were appreciated by both teachers and students but remain insufficient and inconsistent.
The Lagos NUT boss stressed that teachers currently do not receive adequate training on security matters, as most professional development focuses mainly on curriculum delivery rather than safety preparedness. He also lamented that while some states like Lagos have introduced improved security measures such as school fencing and the deployment of security personnel, many schools—particularly in Oyo State—remain unfenced and exposed.
He further argued that while national resources and strategic assets are often heavily secured, schools are frequently neglected, leaving children and teachers exposed to danger.ty. According to him, any attack on schools is an attack on the future of the country.
Comrade Samuel called on federal and state governments to urgently increase funding for education and prioritize school security, including fencing all schools, improving infrastructure, and deploying trained security personnel.
He added that education should not be treated as secondary to infrastructure development, stressing that the quality of schools determines the quality of society.The union leader also expressed concern over the psychological impact of repeated kidnappings, noting that both teachers and students are now experiencing fear and trauma that could have long-term consequences on learning outcomes.
