Atiku urges urgent action to stop bandit attacks on schools

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on security, warning that escalating attacks on schools by terrorists and bandits could cripple Nigeria’s education sector and undermine national development.

Atiku’s call followed the latest attack on Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu, in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, where gunmen reportedly killed three persons, including the school’s Vice Principal, and abducted several students.

The former Vice President said the recurring attacks on educational institutions suggest a deliberate attempt to disrupt learning and create widespread fear among students, teachers and parents.

“The latest attack on a school in Kogi State is a direct threat to education and a colossal national embarrassment that demands urgent and drastic action,” Atiku said in a statement issued on Wednesday by his media office in Abuja.

He argued that Nigeria’s worsening security situation now requires extraordinary measures, including the declaration of a state of emergency focused specifically on security operations.

“It is high time the Federal Government declared a state of emergency to empower commanders with more freedom to act decisively and proactively with these monsters in the country,” he said.

He, however, clarified that his proposal does not involve the suspension or removal of elected state officials, stressing that the objective is to strengthen security responses rather than alter democratic governance structures.

“I am not in any way calling for the removal of elected officials, but rather advocating for commanders to have freer hand to protect their battlefield decisions from political interference,” he added.

The ADC presidential candidate expressed concern that attacks on schools are becoming increasingly frequent, citing recent incidents in Oyo and Borno states. On May 15, at least 90 schoolchildren were reportedly abducted in separate attacks in Oriire, Oyo State, and Mussa in Borno State, while the principal of the school in Oriire was reportedly killed.

According to him, the pattern of attacks points to a dangerous strategy by criminal groups aimed at destabilising the country’s education system.

“Learning can only take place in a safe environment, and terrorist attacks on schools are increasingly making our schools dangerous places. Worse still, the anxiety and trauma that follow terrorist attacks on schools will inevitably make the school environment unsafe for both students and teachers.

“Under no circumstances should we allow terrorists or bandits to destroy our way of life and stop our children from going to school”, Atiku stated.

He further warned that attacks on educational institutions have implications beyond the immediate communities affected.

“A terrorist attack on one school is a threat to schools elsewhere across the country because of its domino effect,” he said.

As part of measures to tackle the security crisis, Atiku proposed the establishment of a National Guard made up of retired military veterans to support the efforts of the armed forces and the police.

He noted that security agencies are currently overstretched and undermanned, making it necessary to explore complementary structures to strengthen internal security operations.

The former Vice President also called for improved intelligence gathering and greater community participation in combating insecurity.

“Our communities have a great role to play in information sharing and eternal vigilance,” he said, while advocating stronger human intelligence capabilities to track terrorist and bandit movements.

Nigeria has witnessed a series of attacks on schools over the past decade, particularly in the North-East and North-West regions, where mass abductions of students have repeatedly drawn national and international concern.

Security experts have warned that continued attacks on educational institutions could worsen school enrolment challenges, deepen learning disruptions and threaten long-term human capital development across the country.