NAPTAN: Why Kidnappers Target Rural Schools
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, has urged authorities to deploy armed security personnel and fence all schools to protect students from kidnappers who deliberately target vulnerable institutions for maximum impact.
Ogunbanjo, in an interview with Vanguard Learning, said criminals focus on schools because they are often poorly protected and located in remote areas, especially in rural communities. He argued that abductions create sustained public and international attention, citing the prolonged focus on the Chibok girls abducted in 2014 and the Dapchi students taken in 2018.
He noted that such attacks are designed to instil fear, disrupt education and force school closures, adding that groups opposed to Western education aim to make others share their rejection of formal learning. Ogunbanjo stressed that Nigerians must resist this by strengthening school security rather than yielding to terror.
He recommended full implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative, fencing of all institutions and deployment of armed officers from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the police at entry points. He observed that while many urban schools are fenced, this is often to deter land encroachment rather than for security, leaving rural schools particularly exposed.
Ogunbanjo also called for expedited approval and rollout of state police to enhance local security responses. He described the recent abduction of pupils, students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State as unfortunate, noting that some victims, including children as young as two, have remained in captivity for over a month. He expressed hope for their swift release while urging collective resistance to evil.
This intervention comes amid renewed attacks on educational institutions across Nigeria. In May 2026, gunmen abducted at least 39 pupils and seven teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, with reports indicating two teachers were killed. Similar incidents have occurred in Borno and other states, contributing to broader concerns about school safety.
Data from monitoring groups show kidnappings remain pervasive, with analyses indicating hundreds of students affected in school-related abductions since the 2014 Chibok incident. UNICEF estimates place Nigeria’s out-of-school children population at approximately 18.3 million, with insecurity cited as a major driver of non-enrolment and school closures, particularly in northern and some southern states.
The Safe Schools Initiative, launched after the Chibok abductions, has allocated funds for infrastructure and security measures, though implementation has varied across states. Proposals for state police have gained legislative traction in recent years, with bills advancing in the National Assembly to address gaps in the federal policing structure.
Ogunbanjo’s remarks are expected to intensify calls for accelerated action on school protection and decentralised security arrangements ahead of the 2027 general elections. Stakeholders anticipate further government announcements on troop deployments, regulatory enforcement and coordination between federal and state agencies to reduce vulnerabilities in the education sector.