Teachers in Borno State, under the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), on Tuesday took to the streets and picketed the Government House in Maiduguri to protest the abduction of students, including 48 pupils and students reportedly kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists in Mussa, Askira-Uba Local Government Area of the state.
The protesting teachers carried placards with inscriptions such as “Education is Not a Crime” and “Bring Back Our Students,” demanding urgent government intervention to rescue the abducted children and improve security in schools across the state.
They said repeated attacks on educational institutions have left teachers traumatised and forced many pupils out of school, disrupting learning in affected communities.
The protest followed a directive from the national leadership of the NUT 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 embark on solidarity rallies aimed at drawing attention to the worsening insecurity affecting schools nationwide.
Leading the protest in Maiduguri, the Secretary of the NUT in Borno State, Bako Monguno, alongside the union’s National Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Tom, called for immediate government action to secure the release of the abducted students and protect schools.
Tom said the rally was necessary to amplify the union’s demand for urgent intervention, stressing that education is a fundamental human right now under threat due to insecurity.
“Education is part of human rights. But in recent times, the reverse is the case, and this is why we are organising this rally to make our voice heard so that our learners in Askira Uba of Mussa Primary and Secondary School will be released unconditionally,” he said.
He urged the government to intensify rescue operations for abducted students, teachers and other victims across Borno and other states.
Also speaking, the Treasurer of the union in the state, Mustapha Usman, accused authorities of not doing enough to prioritise the welfare and rescue of abducted schoolchildren.
“We are also not happy that the government is not prioritising the welfare of Mussa community children that were abducted and this is why we are making our grievances known today,” he said.
A teacher, Abdullahi Saidu, also called for immediate action to secure the release of all students in captivity, stressing that no child should remain in the hands of abductors.
Another teacher, Ibrahim, lamented the persistent insecurity in the country, questioning the safety of citizens.
“For how long will this continue? You abduct pupils, teachers, travellers, old people and others. Nowhere is safe again. We need change,” he said.
The protest comes amid growing concerns over repeated attacks on schools and communities in parts of northern Nigeria, with stakeholders calling for stronger security measures to protect vulnerable populations.
