Protected On Paper, Vulnerable In Reality: Why Nigeria’s Schools Have Become Bandits’ Soft Targets

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LAGOS – Concerns over the safety of Nigerian schools have re­surfaced following recent attacks on educational in­stitutions, including the reported invasion of a school community in Kogi State during the West African Senior School Certificate Examina­tion (WASSCE), an incident that re­portedly claimed lives and disrupted academic activities.

The attack has reignited debate among policymakers, security agen­cies and education stakeholders, many of whom argue that the per­sistence of violence against schools raises serious questions about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s school pro­tection framework.

Former Vice President and presi­dential candidate of the African Dem­ocratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, described the situation as a growing national emergency.

“Learning can only take place in a safe environment, and terrorist attacks on schools are increasingly making our schools dangerous plac­es,” he said in a public statement.

According to him, repeated attacks on educational institutions threaten not only the safety of students and teachers but also the country’s long-term development prospects.

Security experts have similarly warned that schools, particularly those in rural communities, remain highly vulnerable due to inadequate preventive security measures.

“What we are seeing is that schools have become soft targets. Once attack­ers succeed in one location, it sends fear across other communities,” a security analyst in Abuja observed.

Nigeria’s Safe Schools Policy, for­mally known as the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools, was established to safeguard learners, teachers and educational in­frastructure nationwide. The frame­work aligns with the Safe Schools Declaration, a global initiative aimed at protecting education from the ef­fects of conflict and insecurity.

According to United Nations Children’s Fund, which supports implementation of the policy, the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools were developed to ensure secure learning environments through im­proved infrastructure, emergency preparedness and effective response mechanisms. The organisation has consistently maintained that safe learning spaces are essential for sus­taining education, particularly in conflict-affected regions.

The Federal Ministry of Educa­tion has also emphasised that the framework seeks to promote coor­dinated school protection through collaboration among government institutions, security agencies and local communities. Yet implemen­tation remains uneven, especially in remote areas where many schools still lack even the most basic security infrastructure.

Over the past decade, Nigeria has recorded numerous attacks on schools in states such as Borno State, Kaduna State, Katsina State, Niger State, Zamfara State and Kebbi State.

The most infamous remains the Chibok Schoolgirls Kidnapping, which shocked the world and ex­posed glaring vulnerabilities within the nation’s educational security sys­tem. Similar incidents in Dapchi and Kankara later reinforced concerns about the safety of students and school personnel.

Despite repeated government commitments and reforms, recent incidents in parts of Oyo, Borno and Kogi states suggest that many schools remain exposed to security threats.

A senior security official familiar with operations in high-risk areas acknowledged the challenges.

“Security agencies respond as quickly as possible, but you are deal­ing with vast terrain and limited manpower. Prevention is where the real challenge lies,” the source said.

Following the Kogi incident, security agencies announced the deployment of personnel to the affected area. The Nigerian Army said troops were mobilised after re­ceiving distress calls and engaged the attackers, while the Nigeria Police Force confirmed the deployment of tactical units and the commencement of investigations.

However, security analysts argue that an overreliance on post-incident response exposes deeper structural weaknesses.

“Response is not the same as pre­vention. The system still struggles with intelligence gathering and early warning mechanisms,” one analyst noted.

The Safe Schools Policy provides for perimeter fencing, early warning systems, trained security personnel and emergency communication channels. It also encourages close cooperation between communities and security agencies to facilitate in­telligence sharing and rapid threat detection.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, a key stakeholder in the Safe Schools Initiative, has stated that personnel have been deployed to support school protection efforts in several states. Yet coverage remains patchy, particularly in rural commu­nities where dedicated security pres­ence is often absent.

Development experts say inade­quate funding and weak monitoring continue to hamper implementation.

“The policy exists, but implemen­tation is uneven. Without sustained funding and accountability mecha­nisms, the gap between policy and reality will remain significant,” one expert said.

Beyond the security implications, attacks on schools carry profound so­cial and psychological consequenc­es. Children exposed to violence frequently suffer trauma that affects their academic performance, mental well-being and long-term educational prospects.

UNICEF has repeatedly warned that attacks on schools contribute to fear, displacement and disruptions in learning, often forcing parents to withdraw their children from school. In many affected communities, atten­dance rates decline sharply after such incidents, while teachers seek trans­fers to safer locations.

Girls are particularly vulnerable, as security concerns often lead to re­duced enrolment and, in some cases, permanent withdrawal from formal education.

Atiku has called for enhanced intelligence gathering, stronger inter-agency coordination and in­creased community vigilance to prevent future attacks. He also pro­posed the establishment of a National Guard made up of retired military personnel to complement existing security structures.

His recommendations echo broad­er concerns that Nigeria’s security ar­chitecture requires additional capac­ity to adequately protect schools and other vulnerable public institutions.

Security experts insist that a shift from reactive to preventive security strategies is essential.

“Until intelligence and prevention improve, attacks on schools will con­tinue to expose the weaknesses in the system,” an analyst warned.

While security agencies continue to grapple with insurgency, banditry and communal conflicts across the country, experts caution that the growing strain on personnel and resources makes comprehensive preventive coverage increasingly difficult.

The Safe Schools Policy was designed to ensure that Nigerian children can learn without fear. Yet repeated attacks across the country continue to expose the gap between policy intentions and implementa­tion on the ground.

As UNICEF and other stakehold­ers have consistently argued, protect­ing schools requires more than poli­cy documents. It demands sustained investment, effective coordination, robust intelligence systems and a pro­active security strategy. Until these elements come together, Nigeria’s school protection framework will continue to face difficult questions about its ability to safeguard the na­tion’s children.