The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has issued a strong warning of a possible nationwide strike as terror attacks on schools continue to escalate across the country, particularly in the northern states of Kebbi and Niger.
The union’s National President, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, expressing deep outrage over the worsening insecurity and the increasing vulnerability of teachers and students.
The NUT leadership, speaking on behalf of its National Executive Council (NEC), condemned in the strongest terms the latest incidents that have left dozens of children traumatised, several staff missing, and two educators dead.
Killings and Mass Kidnappings Spark National Concern
In Kebbi State, gunmen stormed Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, killing a Vice Principal and a security guard before abducting 25 students in the early hours of the morning.
Barely days later, another tragedy unfolded in Niger State, where terrorists invaded St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, kidnapping over 300 pupils and 12 staff members.
Comrade Amba described the twin attacks as “barbaric, senseless, and unacceptable,” noting that they represent a dangerous escalation in violence targeted at the education sector.
“These grievous attacks are not only assaults on schools, teachers, and learners, but direct blows to the foundation of education and the sustainable development of our nation,” he said. “Classrooms are meant to be sanctuaries for nurturing young minds. The destruction of these learning environments spells doom not just for our children, but for the nation as a whole.”
Schools Forced to Shut Down
According to the union, the frequency and brutality of recent attacks have compelled several schools in affected communities to shut their doors indefinitely. This, the NUT warned, represents a dangerous threat to the future of millions of children, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The union said the closures were “a tragic confirmation” that government policies such as the Safe Schools Declaration, launched to protect learning spaces, have not been effectively implemented.
“Instead of being zones of learning, schools have become soft targets for terrorists and criminals,” Amba lamented. “This is a failure of government at all levels, and the consequences are monumental.”
NUT Issues Ultimatum—Safety First or Strike
In one of its strongest statements in recent years, the NUT warned that if the government fails to take immediate and concrete steps to protect schools and guarantee the safety of teachers, it will be forced to declare a nationwide shutdown of classrooms.
“The recent attacks are a tragic reminder that teachers and learners have become an endangered species,” Comrade Amba said. “If this inhuman and deadly trend continues, the NUT will have no option but to call on all teachers to down tools and stay at home until their safety and security are guaranteed.”
He added:
“Stop the attacks on schools now. The Nigerian state must wake up to its fundamental obligation to protect its citizens.”
Union Demands Immediate Rescue Operations
The NUT called on both federal and state governments to prioritise the safe recovery of all abducted pupils and teachers. The union insisted that security agencies must act with urgency, professionalism, and strategic coordination to ensure that the victims are rescued without delay or harm.
The union also urged governments to:
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Strengthen security presence in schools located in high-risk areas.
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Provide surveillance systems, fencing, alarm mechanisms, and community security networks.
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Implement the Safe Schools Declaration in full across all states.
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Establish rapid-response mechanisms for schools under threat.
Comrade Amba stressed that teachers cannot be expected to work “under perpetual fear of abduction or death.”
A Crisis Threatening Nigeria’s Educational Future
The continued assault on schools, the NUT warned, threatens to reverse decades of progress in educational access, particularly for girls in northern Nigeria. With over 18 million children already out of school—the highest figure globally—experts say further deterioration will have catastrophic long-term consequences.
The NUT said repeated attacks discourage parents from sending children to school, weaken teacher morale, widen the learning gap, and worsen national inequality.
“No nation can survive when its future leaders are either kidnapped, killed, or forced out of school,” the union warned.
Public Outrage Mounts
Civil society groups, education stakeholders, and child rights advocates have joined the NUT in decrying the attacks. Many have questioned the government’s ability to secure the nation, given the frequency of mass abductions since 2014.
Security analysts warn that the ongoing targeting of schools suggests an evolving strategy by armed groups seeking ransom payments, political leverage, and media attention.
Government Yet to Issue Comprehensive Response
As of Tuesday, the Federal Government had not issued a detailed statement responding to the NUT’s threat of a nationwide strike. A senior education ministry official, speaking off-record, said discussions were ongoing to address the situation.
Meanwhile, parents and community leaders in affected states continue to demand immediate government intervention, with several staged protests in Kebbi and Niger.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers’ warning marks a critical turning point in the country’s struggle to safeguard its education system. Should the union proceed with a nationwide strike, millions of children could be forced out of school, compounding learning losses and deepening the national crisis in education.
For now, the message remains clear: unless the government urgently secures schools, protects teachers, and rescues abducted children, the classroom blackout may soon begin.
The NUT has vowed to stand firm.
“The lives of teachers and students matter,” Comrade Amba said. “We will not fold our arms while our members are slaughtered and our children stolen.”
