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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Borno NUT joins solidarity rallies over worsening school abductions

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Teachers in Borno State, Nigeria, protested the increasing abduction of students from schools.
  • The rallies followed a directive from the national leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) to raise awareness about insecurity affecting schools.
  • Protesters demanded the immediate release of abducted students and intensified government efforts to ensure school safety.

Members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in Borno State took to the streets, including the government house, to protest the escalating abductions of learners from schools across the state. This demonstration aligns with a directive from the national NUT leadership, issued via a circular on May 29, 2026, mandating all state chapters to hold solidarity rallies.

Education is part of human rights. But in recent times, the reverse is the case, which is why we are organizing this rally to make our voices heard so that our learners at Mussa Primary and Secondary School in Askira Uba will be released unconditionally.

— Yusuf TomNational Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Yusuf Tom, speaking at the protest.

The rallies aim to draw attention to the worsening insecurity that is impacting educational institutions. Bako Monguno, Secretary of the NUT Borno State chapter, and Yusuf Tom, the National Publicity Secretary, led the protest. They called for immediate government action to guarantee the safety of schools throughout Borno and the wider country.

Children deserve protection. We want the government to intensify efforts in rescuing these children, teachers and colleagues in Borno and other states.

— Yusuf TomNational Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Yusuf Tom, calling for government action.

Tom emphasized that education is a human right, but recent events suggest otherwise. He stated, "This is why we are organizing this rally to make our voices heard so that our learners at Mussa Primary and Secondary School in Askira Uba will be released unconditionally." He added, "Children deserve protection. We want the government to intensify efforts in rescuing these children, teachers and colleagues in Borno and other states."

We are also not happy that the government is not prioritizing the welfare of Mussa community children that were abducted and this is why we are making our grievances known today.

— Mustapha UsmanTreasurer of the NUT Borno State chapter, Mustapha Usman, expressing grievances.

Mustapha Usman, the Treasurer of the Borno chapter, expressed dissatisfaction with the government's handling of abduction victims, stating, "We are also not happy that the government is not prioritizing the welfare of Mussa community children that were abducted and this is why we are making our grievances known today." Another teacher, Abdullahi Saidu, echoed the call for immediate rescue of all students in captivity. A protester identified as Ibrahim lamented the pervasive insecurity, saying, "Nowhere is safe again. We need change."

No student should remain in captivity. The government should rescue all of them.

— Abdullahi SaiduA teacher, Abdullahi Saidu, demanding the rescue of abducted students.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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