Borno Teachers Join Solidarity Rally Over Rising School Abductions

The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in Borno State, on Tuesday, joined a solidarity rally to protest the increasing cases of abductions of pupils and students in schools across the state.

The protest, which took members of the union to the Government House and major streets in Maiduguri, followed a directive from the national leadership of the NUT contained in a circular dated May 29, 2026.

The circular, jointly signed by the union’s National President, Audu Amba, and National Secretary, Clinton Ikpitibo, directed all state chapters to organise solidarity rallies to draw national attention to the worsening insecurity affecting schools and learners across the country.

The development comes on the heels on recent abductions of schoolchildren and teachers in Borno and Oyo States, respectively.

Leading the demonstration were the Secretary of the NUT in Borno State, Bako Monguno, and the union’s National Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Tom, who called on the government and security agencies to take urgent steps to guarantee the safety of schools and secure the release of abducted learners.

Speaking during the rally, Tom said the union was using the protest to demand immediate government intervention in the growing wave of school abductions.

“Education is part of human rights. But in recent times, the reverse is the case, which is why we are organising this rally to make our voices heard so that our learners at Mussa Primary and Secondary School in Askira Uba will be released unconditionally,” he said.

He added, “Children deserve protection. We want the government to intensify efforts in rescuing these children, teachers and colleagues in Borno and other states.”

Tom further stressed that no learner should remain in the hands of abductors.

“No student should remain in captivity. The government should rescue all of them,” he stated.

Some participants also expressed frustration over the persistent insecurity and killings across Nigeria.

One of the protesters, who identified himself simply as Ibrahim, lamented the increasing frequency of kidnappings and violent attacks.

“For how long will this continue? You abduct pupils, teachers, travellers, old people and others. Nowhere is safe again. We need change,” he said.