Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has urged the Federal Government to take immediate steps by declaring a state of emergency on security, warning that increasing attacks on schools by terrorists and bandits could severely damage Nigeria’s education system and hinder national progress.
Atiku made the appeal following the recent attack on Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu, in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, where armed assailants reportedly killed three people, including the school’s Vice Principal, and kidnapped several students.
The former Vice President said the persistent assaults on schools indicate a calculated effort to disrupt education and spread fear among students, teachers, and parents.
“The latest attack on a school in Kogi State is a direct threat to education and a colossal national embarrassment that demands urgent and drastic action,” Atiku said in a statement issued on Wednesday by his media office in Abuja.
He maintained that the deteriorating security situation across the country now calls for exceptional measures, including the declaration of a state of emergency specifically targeted at security operations.
“It is high time the Federal Government declared a state of emergency to empower commanders with more freedom to act decisively and proactively with these monsters in the country,” he said.
He, however, clarified that his recommendation does not entail the removal or suspension of elected state officials, noting that the goal is to reinforce security efforts rather than interfere with democratic institutions.
“I am not in any way calling for the removal of elected officials, but rather advocating for commanders to have freer hand to protect their battlefield decisions from political interference,” he added.
The ADC presidential candidate expressed worry over the growing frequency of attacks on schools, referencing recent incidents in Oyo and Borno states. On May 15, at least 90 schoolchildren were reportedly abducted during separate attacks in Oriire, Oyo State, and Mussa in Borno State, while the principal of the school in Oriire was reportedly killed.
According to him, the recurring attacks suggest a dangerous pattern by criminal groups seeking to undermine the nation’s educational system.
“Learning can only take place in a safe environment, and terrorist attacks on schools are increasingly making our schools dangerous places. Worse still, the anxiety and trauma that follow terrorist attacks on schools will inevitably make the school environment unsafe for both students and teachers.
“Under no circumstances should we allow terrorists or bandits to destroy our way of life and stop our children from going to school”, Atiku stated.
He further cautioned that attacks on schools carry consequences that extend beyond the communities directly affected.
“A terrorist attack on one school is a threat to schools elsewhere across the country because of its domino effect,” he said.
As part of his recommendations to address the security challenge, Atiku proposed the creation of a National Guard comprising retired military personnel to complement the efforts of the armed forces and the police.
He observed that security agencies are currently stretched beyond capacity and face manpower shortages, making it necessary to consider additional structures to bolster internal security operations.
The former Vice President also advocated enhanced intelligence gathering and stronger community involvement in tackling insecurity.
“Our communities have a great role to play in information sharing and eternal vigilance,” he said, while calling for improved human intelligence networks to monitor terrorist and bandit activities.
Nigeria has experienced numerous attacks on schools over the past decade, particularly in the North-East and North-West, where mass abductions of students have repeatedly attracted national and international attention.
Security analysts have cautioned that continued assaults on educational institutions could worsen school enrolment challenges, deepen disruptions to learning, and undermine long-term human capital development across the country.
