By Zainab Bakare
Members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in Borno State on Tuesday staged a protest at the Government House and along major streets in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, demanding urgent action to address the growing wave of school abductions and secure the release of learners still held captive by kidnappers.
The demonstration followed a directive from the national leadership of the NUT contained in a circular dated May 29, 2026, and signed by the union’s President, Audu Amba, and Secretary, Clinton Ikpitibo.
The circular instructed all state chapters to organise solidarity rallies to draw national attention to the worsening insecurity affecting schools across the country.
Leading the protest were the Secretary of the NUT Borno State Wing, Bako Monguno, and the union’s National Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Tom.
They called on federal and state authorities to intensify efforts to protect schools and ensure the safe return of abducted pupils, students and teachers.
Speaking during the rally, Tom described education as a fundamental human right and lamented the growing insecurity that continues to threaten access to learning in many parts of the country.
“Education is part of human rights. But in recent times, the reverse is the case. This rally is aimed at making our voices heard so that learners of Mussa Primary and Secondary School in Askira Uba can be released unconditionally,” he said.
He urged security agencies and government authorities to strengthen rescue efforts and provide adequate protection for schools, teachers and learners.
“Children deserve protection. We want the government to intensify efforts in rescuing these children, teachers and colleagues in Borno and other states,” Tom added.
Also addressing protesters, the state treasurer of the union, Mustapha Usman, criticised what he described as inadequate attention to the plight of abducted children and their families.
“We are not happy that the government is not prioritising the welfare of the Mussa community children who were abducted. This is why we are making our grievances known today,” he said.
A teacher, Abdullahi Saidu, called for immediate action to secure the release of all students currently in captivity.
“No student should remain in captivity. The government should rescue all of them,” he said.
Another protester, who identified himself simply as Ibrahim, expressed frustration over the persistent insecurity affecting communities across the country.
“For how long will this continue? Pupils, teachers, travellers and elderly people are being abducted. Nowhere is safe anymore. We need change,” he said.
The protest forms part of a nationwide campaign by the NUT to draw attention to the increasing threats facing schools and to press for stronger measures to safeguard learners and education workers across Nigeria.
