Wednesday, 19 May 2021: Nigerian education system is already in a catastrophic condition and the mass kidnapping of students has become the greatest threat of all.
CEOAFRICA checks indicated that in less than three months between December 2020 and March 2021, more than 600 school children have been kidnapped while in school, in three separate incidents.
While Nigerian education system is still struggling to adapt to the changes caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, abductors increased the intensity of attacks on schools; abducting students and staff, demanding huge sum of money as ransom, disrupting the education system.
It saddens that this abduction take place more in the northern region of the country where over 50% of youths due to cultural or religious reasons do not go to school.
Kidnapping of students can further diminish the interest of parents in education which will increase the number of youths not enrolled in school.
According to Nelson Mandela, “The power of education extends beyond the development of skills we need for economic success. It can contribute to nation-building and reconciliation.”
How do we build the nation or create a common ground for all ethnic groups when future leaders are not educated?
Most abducted students who regain freedom become too afraid to return to school, because of the fear of being abducted again and the stigma of being a one-time victim of sexual abuse. Abducted male and female students are being molested and sexually abused by these bandits when they keep them in hostage.
CEOAFRICA gathered that the radical Islamic group, Boko Haram, has killed an estimated 2,295 teachers, and over 19,000 teachers have been displaced by the conflict.
The United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF), estimates that more than 1,400 schools have been destroyed, damaged, or looted primarily in the northeast, and more than 600,000 children have lost access to education.
If education will retain its prestige, it is important that abduction of student and the alarming rate of insecurity is curbed in Nigeria. It is important the government make school safe again for students and staff.
