The Federal Government on Thursday has condemned the abduction of students in parts of Oyo and Borno states, while describing the attacks as a direct threat to education and national stability amid renewed concerns over the safety of schools across Nigeria.
The Federal Ministry of Education, in a statement issued in Abuja, said the kidnappings in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State were “tragic and unacceptable”. It stressed that attacks targeting learners strike at the future of the country.
The latest incidents have again revived fears over the vulnerability of schools and rural communities years after a wave of mass kidnappings pushed school security to the centre of national discourse.
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Although the ministry did not disclose the number of students abducted or details surrounding the incidents, the development adds to the increasing anxieties over insecurity within educational environments, particularly in conflict-prone and underserved areas.
The Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, stated that the Federal Government was already working with security agencies to secure the safe return of all abducted children.
Alausa said, “No child should face fear or violence in pursuit of education.”
He added that the government remained committed to protecting schools and learners across the country.
Besides condemning the attacks, the ministry’s response also reflected the lingering pressure on authorities to reassure parents and communities that schools remain safe despite recurring incidents of violence, kidnapping, and insurgent activity affecting parts of the country.
School-related abductions have repeatedly triggered national outrage in recent years, especially following high-profile mass kidnappings in states such as Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, and Zamfara. Those incidents forced temporary school closures in some communities and deepened concerns about declining enrolment in vulnerable regions.
The ministry stated that the administration of Bola Tinubu was strengthening school protection measures through surveillance systems, emergency response mechanisms, and implementation of the National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools.
While successive governments have introduced security frameworks for schools, attacks on educational institutions have persisted in some regions where armed groups exploit weak security presence, poor infrastructure, and difficult terrain.
The ministry also urged Nigerians to avoid spreading misinformation capable of undermining ongoing rescue operations, appealing to the public to remain calm while security efforts continue.
It further expressed solidarity with families affected by the incidents as well as the governments of Oyo and Borno states.
The abductions comes about, especially during ia period when education stakeholders are increasingly worried about the psychological effect of insecurity on children, especially in rural communities already struggling with poverty, displacement, and limited access to learning facilities.
Despite the fact that the Federal Government projected confidence in the ongoing rescue efforts, the incidents once again expose the fragile intersection between insecurity and education in parts of the country, where attending school has, for some families, become tied not only to opportunity but also to risk.
