School abductions threaten education access, says group

The Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) has strongly condemned the continuous abduction of schoolchildren across Nigeria, issuing a stark warning that these attacks pose a grave threat to the nation's educational future.

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I condemn the continued abduction of schoolchildren across the country due to insecurity.

Halima Mahdi, the Gombe State and North-East Zonal Coordinator for CSACEFA, expressed deep concern over the escalating insecurity. Her statement comes as Nigeria grapples with a resurgence of banditry, with recent reports indicating numerous attacks within a single week. The situation is dire, with scores of pupils, students, and teachers abducted from schools in Borno and Oyo states remaining in captivity for over a month. In Oyo State, public schools have been closed for approximately a month due to security concerns raised by the Nigerian Union of Teachers.

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This is very disturbing because the future of education is at stake. Fear among children, parents and society at large is negatively affecting access to education.

Mahdi emphasized that these persistent abductions are instilling widespread fear among learners, parents, and society at large, directly hindering access to education. "This is very disturbing because the future of education is at stake. Fear among children, parents and society at large is negatively affecting access to education," she stated. The coalition warns that failure to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of children and educational institutions could lead to severe social and economic repercussions for the country.

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What will happen to a society without education? With the current trend, where many educated youths remain unemployed, there are increasing numbers of out-of-school children, and politicians continue to use and abandon young people during election periods, we are heading for serious trouble.

The advocate also pointed to the dangerous combination of a rising number of out-of-school children and high youth unemployment. She cautioned that a society without education, coupled with unemployed educated youth and politicians exploiting young people, is heading towards serious trouble. CSACEFA urged federal, state, and local authorities to intensify security efforts and secure the safe return of all abducted children, stressing that protecting children and ensuring uninterrupted education must be a paramount priority for all stakeholders.

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Stop abductions, stop kidnappings, and bring back our children safely and in good health.