Teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday joined a nationwide solidarity protest in Abuja, demanding urgent government action to protect schools and secure the release of abducted pupils and teachers amid a fresh wave of attacks on education facilities across the country.
The protest, which converged around Eagle Square, formed part of a coordinated directive issued by the national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), instructing its state chapters to stage simultaneous demonstrations across all 36 states of the federation in response to rising insecurity in schools.
The action followed growing public outrage over recent abductions of schoolchildren and teachers in parts of the country, including incidents in Oyo State, which have intensified fears among educators and parents about the safety of learning environments, particularly in rural communities.
Some public primary and secondary schools in several states had earlier been shut on Monday as teachers complied with the union’s directive, following the reported abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The incident triggered widespread condemnation and renewed debate over the vulnerability of schools to criminal attacks, with education stakeholders warning that continued insecurity could further disrupt academic activities nationwide.
In Abuja, teachers marched peacefully in coordinated groups, carrying placards, chanting solidarity songs, and calling on authorities to take immediate steps to secure schools and prevent further attacks.
Speaking during the rally, the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT chapter, Comrade Abdullahi Shafa, said the protest was in line with directives from the union’s national headquarters.
He said the nationwide action became necessary following repeated attacks on schools, particularly the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State, which he described as “deeply distressing and unacceptable.”
“We are working on the directives of the national headquarters of this union. They instructed us in every state of the federation to embark on a solidarity rally in protest of what has happened to our teachers and students,” Shafa said.
He recalled that teachers and students had been attacked in Oyo State, adding that a teacher was killed during the incident, which he described as tragic and unjustifiable.
“If you are aware, some weeks ago teachers and students were attacked in Oyo State. A teacher there was killed instantly for no just cause. This is someone who dedicated his life to impart knowledge on students,” he said.
Shafa said the continued targeting of teachers was alarming and posed a serious threat to the education system, especially in rural and underserved communities where teachers remain central to learning delivery.
“It is torturing and horrifying that a teacher who has put in his best to ensure children get qualitative education is killed like that in the name of kidnapping and banditry. It is not good for the system, not good for the teaching environment, and not good for our children,” he said.
He questioned why educators were increasingly becoming targets of violent attacks, noting that teachers are present in every part of the country and should not be singled out for abduction.
“Even if they want to kidnap, they should not go for teachers. Teachers are everywhere in Nigeria, in every nook and cranny. If you resort to kidnapping teachers, then you are denying people in the hinterlands access to education,” he added.
The NUT chairman urged governments at all levels to take immediate and practical steps to secure schools, improve infrastructure, and strengthen security architecture around learning environments.
“Our message to the government is very clear. We appeal to them to be proactive, to take adequate care of our students and teachers. Provide security for our schools, construct perimeter fences and improve infrastructure so that our environment can be safe,” he said.
