Over 600 Pupils, Teachers Abducted Despite ₦145bn Safe Schools Scheme — Report

No fewer than 603 students and teachers have been abducted across seven major school attacks in Nigeria between March 2024 and May 2026, despite the Federal Government’s ₦145 billion Safe Schools Initiative, according to a new report.

The incidents, recorded in Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kogi, Borno and Oyo states, highlight what stakeholders describe as weak implementation of the programme designed to protect educational institutions from armed attacks.

The Safe Schools Initiative, introduced in the aftermath of the 2014 Chibok abduction, was intended to strengthen security in vulnerable schools nationwide. However, repeated mass kidnappings have raised concerns about its effectiveness and execution.

A breakdown of the attacks shows that 137 pupils were abducted in Kuriga, Kaduna State, in March 2024, while 15 students were kidnapped in Sokoto two days later.

In November 2025, 25 schoolgirls were abducted in Kebbi State, followed by the kidnapping of 303 students and 12 teachers in Niger State, though authorities later claimed they were rescued.

Other incidents include the abduction of 23 pupils in Kogi State in April 2026, 42 students in Borno State in May 2026, and 46 pupils and teachers in Oyo State during coordinated attacks on three schools.

The report also notes that the Safe Schools programme, valued at ₦144.8bn to ₦145bn, was expected to cover at least 18 high-risk states and thousands of schools between 2023 and 2026.

However, officials admitted that funding constraints, poor coordination with state governments, and implementation challenges have slowed progress. Some stakeholders also argue that the initiative has not translated into visible improvements in school security infrastructure.

Parents’ groups and teachers’ unions have criticised the continued vulnerability of schools, citing lack of perimeter fencing, inadequate security personnel, and weak emergency response systems.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) warned that the situation could discourage parents from sending children to public schools if urgent action is not taken.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government maintains that efforts are ongoing to strengthen school protection through intelligence-led operations and collaboration with state authorities.

Security experts, however, say the recurring attacks suggest that school protection policies remain poorly enforced, despite significant budgetary allocations.

The report has intensified calls for a comprehensive review of the Safe Schools Initiative, improved funding accountability, and stronger coordination between federal and state security agencies to prevent further attacks on educational institutions.