School safety has taken centre stage in Borno State following renewed attacks on educational institutions, with stakeholders calling for urgent reforms to protect pupils and teachers after the abduction of 78 children by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Askira-Uba Local Government Area. The calls came during an education summit focused on strengthening security ahead of the 2026/2027 academic session.
Speaking at the summit, the Borno State Commissioner for Education, Innovation, Science and Technology, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, said the recent kidnappings had underscored the need to reassess existing school protection measures. According to him, 42 pupils were abducted from Mussa in May, while another 36 students and one teacher were taken from Lassa between May and June this year.
The commissioner said the government remains concerned about the fate of the abducted children, describing them as innocent pupils taken from their classrooms. He added that security agencies have assured the state government that efforts are ongoing to secure their release and reunite them with their families.
Rather than viewing the incidents as isolated attacks, participants at the summit focused on preventing future occurrences. Wakilbe said the resurgence of school abductions, despite years of investment in the Safe Schools Initiative following the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction in 2014, highlights the need to identify weaknesses in the current system and strengthen protection strategies.
The summit, organised by the Borno State Government in collaboration with the Malala Fund, the Unique Care and Support Foundation (CASFOD), the Centre for Advocacy, Transparency and Accountability Initiative (CATAI), and other partners, brought together education stakeholders to review existing policies. Discussions centred on improving school security, promoting inclusive education and ensuring learning environments remain safe for children.
Executive Director of CASFOD, Benjamin John, said the return of large-scale school kidnappings is particularly troubling at a time when governments and development partners are working to reduce the number of out-of-school children. He urged parents, communities and organisations to work alongside government in creating secure learning spaces, noting that protecting schools requires a collective effort.
Also speaking, Executive Director of CATAI, Abubakar Sadiq Muazu, said participants developed recommendations for both the Federal and Borno State governments. He called for a review of Nigeria’s education curriculum to reflect current security realities and advocated stronger collaboration with local security structures to improve protection around schools.
The summit concluded with additional proposals aimed at preventing future attacks, including the deployment of Civilian Joint Task Force personnel to schools and the establishment of effective early warning systems to enable swift evacuation during emergencies. Stakeholders said implementing these measures before the next academic session could strengthen confidence among parents and help ensure that children can learn in a safer environment.
