The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has attributed the rising wave of school abductions to the collapse of Nigeria’s internal security system.
NANS National President, Olushola Oladoja, stated on Wednesday that despite considerable funding and repeated government commitments, the Safe School Initiative has failed to deliver meaningful protection.
Oladoja expressed sorrow that for over a decade, the country has been caught in a tragic loop of loss without justice, reform, or real guarantees of safety for students within school premises.
“Too many schools have been overrun by terrorists due to clear signs of poor coordination, intelligence failures, and complacent leadership,” he said.
He also held police leadership responsible for what he described as a widespread breakdown in internal security, which has emboldened terrorists to repeatedly target educational institutions.
Oladoja warned that Nigeria must stop tolerating incompetence in matters that affect citizens’ lives and national security.
Referring to the recent Kebbi school attack, NANS expressed deep concern about possible internal betrayal, highlighting that terrorists struck just minutes after troops reportedly withdrew.
He called on the National Security Adviser, Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, and Service Chiefs to establish a high-level investigation panel to examine potential insider involvement.
“The panel should investigate security lapses, command failures, and the puzzling pattern of troop withdrawals occurring shortly before major attacks,” he added.
