The National leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has expressed sadness over the re-emerging incidence of school invasion and abduction of teachers and students across the country’s educational institutions.
According to a statement signed by the Secretary-General of NUT Dr. Mike Ike Ene ”’ these incidences are sad reminders of previous ugly events in Chibok and Dapchi, where Boko haram terrorist had attacked and abducted students creating a monumental disruption of school activities and impeding our nations educational growth and advancement while subjecting family members and relatives to unimaginable trauma”.
He lamented that a Headteacher with Olagua Primary School Ohordua in Edo State, Mr. Alu Ola Paul was Kidnapped on his way to work on the 1st of December, 2020 and released six days later while on the 8th December, 2020, Mrs. Gladys Niemogha Belleh and Mrs. Blessing Emunefe both of whom are teachers of Ohorhe Secondary School Effurun in Delta State were kidnapped in their school premises by armed bandits and are yet to be released, thereby throwing both families, students, and the school community into emotional and overall destabilization.
Ene warned that the recent condemnable events of Bandits attack on schools, if not immediately addressed will largely affect the 2019/2020 academic calendar which has already been disrupted by the six-month-long lockdown caused by the Covid- 19 pandemic.
He said,” as a union, the NUT will not fold her hands and watch enemies of educational development threaten the nation’s educational system to suffocation”.
“As such we wish to remind our government at all levels, of their primary responsibility as enshrined in the constitutionA constitution is a set of fundamental rules that determine how a country or state is run. More which is the security of lives and property of the entire Nigerian citizens”.
The NUT made bold to demand that government must rise to these challenges and take up its responsibility to guarantee and execute this general principle and commitment of providing adequate security to all our educational institutions and the nation at large. Unfortunately, it is becoming apparent that the government can not provide the security and safety of our teachers, students, and the educational community across Nigeria. This unfortunate situation must be addressed without further contemplation.
In light of these recent developments, the Nigeria Union of Teachers may be compelled to suspend activities pending when it is safe for our members to teach and guide our pupils and students without fear of abduction by these faceless enemies of the educational prosperity of the Nigerian Nation.
The NUT herewith extends our appeal to all stakeholders to join hands with the government and security agencies to provide adequate protection for the students, pupils, teachers, and the school communities, to ensure that educational activities are not hampered by enemies of the nations educational system using schools as soft targets.
In order not to escalate the disruption of our academic calendar which is in a fragile state as a result of the Covid- 19 pandemic. NUT unequivocally call on the Federal, States and Local government to ensure adequate security and 24-hour surveillance around our schools.
Also, the government must begin to consider the implementation of Life Insurance and Hazard Allowance to teachers in our Basic and Senior Secondary Schools as approved by His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari on the occasion of the World Teachers’ Day 2020.
Our prayers are with the families of the abducted teachers and students as we hold unto the government on their promise to ensure their safe release to be reunited with family members and relatives without further delay.
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