Following the recent abduction of students at the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JOSTUM) in Benue State, ActionAid Nigeria has condemned the attack and demanded urgent action by the government on the worsening insecurity in schools.
ActionAid Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, in a statement noted that the abduction is another harsh reality of the deepening insecurity across the country, where schools, homes, roads, and communities have become unsafe spaces.
He pointed out that the continued cases of kidnappings in educational institutions, which Nigeria has repeatedly experienced, are a grim reminder of past incidents, including the abductions of the Chibok and Dapchi girls and of over 200 students in Kuriga, Kaduna State, in 2024, among several others who have faced similar attacks in schools.
Mamedu said, “This persistent threat undermines the right to education and poses a serious risk to national development. Closing schools as a temporary response does not address the root cause of the problem. Education in Nigeria is already under threat due to poor infrastructure and underfunding; adding insecurity to the mix worsens the crisis.”
He stressed that students should not have to choose between getting an education and staying alive, wondering that if schools are not safe, where can young Nigerians feel secure?
ActionAid Nigeria, however, called on the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive action to protect students, educators, and Nigeria’s future.
Mamedu further pointed out that despite past assurances from the government, including President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2021 commitment to end attacks on educational facilities and ensure a safe learning environment, these violent abductions have not only persisted but worsened.
He wondered, “What has become of those promises? Why are students still being taken from schools in 2025? The Nigerian people deserve answers and, more importantly, real solutions.”
He harped on the need for the Nigerian government to demonstrate genuine commitment by re-evaluating and fully implementing its school security strategies and demanded that security agencies intensify efforts to rescue and ensure the safe return of the abducted students.
He called on the agencies to strengthen security presence in schools and communities and also urged them to prioritise intelligence gathering, early warning systems, and community-led security initiatives.
“The abduction of students is not just an attack on individuals; it is a direct assault on the future of Nigeria. The Federal Government must act with urgency to bring back the abducted students safely and implement concrete measures to protect all schools from such heinous acts,” they stated.
“Every child deserves the right to education without fear of violence. Our leaders must rise to the occasion; Nigeria’s future depends on it. Policies that tackle the underlying causes of insecurity, ranging from socio-economic challenges to governance failures, must also be prioritized, and those responsible for this abduction must be identified and held accountable to deter future occurrences.”
While standing in solidarity with all the students affected, their families, and the university at this difficult time, ActionAid said, “The time for empty promises is over; what Nigerians need now is action to end the insecurity plaguing schools and the nation at large.”
