Nigeria’s school safety plan falters as kidnappings persist in insecure regions

After a two-month ordeal, security units rescued 39 students and six teachers abducted from three schools in Oyo State, prompting President Bola Tinubu to express relief. The raid reignites criticism of the Safe Schools Initiative, a program created after the 2014 Chibok kidnapping to fortify schools with fences, guards and early-warning systems. Despite expansion to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, audits reveal that thousands of schools, particularly in the north, still lack basic perimeter security.

Allegations of fund diversion and a parliamentary demand for a full audit have further eroded confidence. Ongoing kidnappings, with over 600 victims recorded between March 2024 and May 2026, have forced many schools to stay shut, as seen in Kebbi State’s prolonged closures. Experts argue that without broader community security, economic development and sustained financing, school fortifications alone cannot protect children.