The Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and governments at all levels to suspend this year’s June 12 Democracy Day celebrations if abducted school children and teachers are not rescued and safely reunited with their families before the national event.
The coalition made the demand on Monday in Abuja during a World Press Briefing, where it raised strong concerns over the escalating wave of school kidnappings and repeated attacks on educational institutions across Nigeria.
Speaking at the briefing, CSACEFA National Moderator and Board Chair, Peculiar Caleb—who is also President of the Africa Network Campaign on Education for All (ANCEFA)—described recent attacks in Oyo State, Borno State, and other parts of the country as a direct assault on education, childhood, and Nigeria’s future.
According to her, schools are increasingly becoming “terror zones,” where pupils, teachers, and parents now live in fear, trauma, and uncertainty due to persistent insecurity.
Caleb referenced the attack in Ahoro Esinele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where at least 39 school children and seven teachers were reportedly abducted. She added that victims included pupils from a secondary school and two primary schools, noting that one teacher was allegedly killed in captivity while security operatives were injured during rescue efforts.
She further cited another incident in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, where suspected militants reportedly abducted 32 pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School, along with 10 others taken from nearby homes.
“These incidents are not isolated. They form part of a growing pattern of attacks on education where children, teachers, parents and school communities are made targets of fear, violence and trauma,” Caleb stated.
She expressed concern that despite Nigeria’s endorsement of the Safe Schools Declaration in 2019 and the adoption of the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools in 2021, implementation remains weak, with little accountability for continued attacks.
Caleb warned that Nigeria’s global education credibility is at risk, noting that the country is expected to co-host the 2026 Global Partnership for Education replenishment campaign alongside Italy.
“Nigeria cannot stand on the global stage to mobilise education financing while, at home, children are being abducted from schools and parents are afraid to send children to classrooms,” she said.
CSACEFA reiterated its call for urgent, coordinated action to secure the release of all abducted pupils and strengthen protection measures for schools nationwide.
