After gunmen kidnapped students and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, in yet another attack on educational facilities, former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi accused President Bola Tinubu of neglecting to protect Nigerian schools.

Mr. Amaechi cited the recent kidnapping of schoolgirls in Maga, Kebbi State, while describing the act as part of a growing pattern of mass kidnappings. Recurrent attacks on schools, farms, roads, and places of worship, he said, demonstrate that insecurity has become “systemic, national, and urgent.”

Following President Donald Trump’s placement of Nigeria on a list of Countries of Particular Concern and his threat of military action for claimed Christian genocide, a team from Nigeria led by National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu met with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth last week.

Mr. Amaechi criticized the government in a Facebook statement for what he described as a concerning mismatch between domestic insecurity and foreign policy ambitions.

“International cooperation is important, but making statements after the fact is insufficient when children are being kidnapped from schools.”

He pointed out that at the time of the assaults in Niger and Kebbi, important security officials, such as the Minister of Defence, NSA, Inspector-General of Police, and Chief of Defence Staff, were abroad.

“Visible, coordinated, decisive, and proactive action is what Nigerians want to see,” he continued. “It must be his turn to protect if it was his turn to lead.”

Mr. Amaechi cited Tinubu’s 2022 proclamation, “Emi lo kan” (“It is my turn”), and charged the president with neglecting the duties that come with authority.

“Nigerian children should be protected if it is anyone’s turn. It is impossible to divorce the obligation to protect from the right to lead.

Mr. Amaechi, a 2027 presidential candidate and current member of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), claimed that such mass kidnappings jeopardize the public’s remaining faith in the federal administration.

Nigeria is the country with the most out-of-school children worldwide.
According to UNICEF, Nigeria has the biggest number of out-of-school children globally, with over 18 million. Of these, 8.1 million are in junior secondary school and 10.2 million are in primary school.

According to Mr. Amaechi, frequent attacks on schools run the risk of making the situation worse forever.

“Schooling becomes a risk rather than a right when kids are removed from classrooms. These tragedies harm not just education today but also the workforce, economy, and peace of tomorrow.

The Safe Schools Declaration, which Nigeria adopted in 2018 to shield schools from armed assaults, was criticized by Mr. Amaechi. He pointed out that under the current administration, the N16 billion allotted in 2022 has not produced any discernible results.

“We cannot abandon a vital national structure intended to protect schools and still claim to be serious about doing so.”

In a similar vein, experts have cited uneven budget releases, inadequate interagency cooperation, and poor implementation.

“Security is economic stability, not just firearms.”
Mr. Amaechi connected widespread poverty and a lack of prospects for employment to insecurity in addition to operational shortcomings.

“People will create illegal sources of income if they are unable to earn a lawful one. Opportunity, dignity, and faith in the government are all important aspects of security.

He called the National Council of State an essential constitutional mechanism in times of national crisis and encouraged President Tinubu to bring it into session.

“When will we use such an instrument if we don’t now?”

Growing fear and criticism
Ten years of widespread school kidnappings, which started with the Chibok event in 2014, have been completed with the most recent abduction. Some victims are still unaccounted for, while others have been saved or freed.

President Tinubu is under increasing public pressure as similarities between his administration and those of his predecessors, Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, both of whom experienced harsh public criticism due to insecurity.

Political adversaries, such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have also called for the president to step down.

Ita Awak, a former APC spokeswoman and aviation regulator, had earlier publicly apologized to former President Jonathan for branding him “clueless,” claiming that insecurity under Tinubu is now “worse.”

Looking back: Buhari’s insecurity
When former President Muhammadu Buhari took office in 2015, he pledged to combat corruption and reestablish security. Many Nigerians anticipated that his military experience would improve the country’s defense.

Rather, insecurity increased. ICIR’s analysis of data from the Nigeria Security Tracker shows that between May 2015 and April 2023, non-state actors killed about 31,821 individuals. Over 5,200 Nigerians were kidnapped in 2021 alone, surpassing the total number of kidnappings from 2014 to 2019.

Banditry, insurrection, kidnappings for ransom, and fatal conflicts between farmers and herders were all part of the wave of widespread violence. The murder of over 100 rice farmers in Koshebe, Borno State, in November 2020 is a striking example, according to HumAngle.

Travel became dangerous, schools and farms closed, and public confidence in the ability of the government declined.

After the Abuja–Kaduna train incident, Amaechi said, “We would have saved lives.”
Since his tenure in Buhari’s government, Mr. Amaechi has been frustrated by structural shortcomings. He was upset that a planned surveillance system was delayed following the March 28, 2022, Abuja-Kaduna train incident.

“The procedure of obtaining the comprehensive security surveillance and monitoring system has been tiresome; I am upset and honestly don’t know what to tell Nigerians anymore. We may have saved lives if the procedures had been streamlined, according to PREMIUM TIMES.

“We were aware of the issue… You would see someone on that track if we had such equipment. Our losses have cost us more than N3 billion. All we asked for was permission.

“If these items were here,” he continued. Drones would have alerted you to the presence of persons in this area. In addition to drones, we also require helicopters.

The presidency reacts
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga stated that Mr. Amaechi’s recommendations were helpful and would be taken into consideration when contacted.

“I am confident that the Federal Government will give them immediate consideration.”

He refuted Mr. Amaechi’s assertion that important security figures were not present during the most recent kidnappings, though.

“The DG of DSS is present and has been briefing the Commander-in-Chief. There, the Chief of Army Staff is mobilizing soldiers. Following Trump’s military threats, those who were not in the nation went on yet another important mission in the United States.

“To get our kidnapped children released, the NSA has been in contact with security officials on the ground,” Mr. Onanuga stated.

Dele Momodu, a media mogul, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action to address Nigeria’s current insecurity crisis before it’s too late.

This was what Momodu said in a lengthy tweet on Sunday.

Before the general elections in 2027, he said, Tinubu is more concerned with crushing the opposition.

Momodu claims that the president has surrounded himself with political vagrants and friends who act carelessly and foolishly.

“If you ask me if Tinubu is serious about fighting insecurity in Nigeria, my honest response would be that he’s wasting all of his energy on fighting opposition in order to have no competition in 2027,” Momodu wrote.

“President Tinubu has surrounded himself with political vagrants and friends, enabling them to act carelessly and dangerously.

“Truth and reality indicate that our leaders are too indolent and completely unserious about true governance, even though Nigerians are busy shouting sovereignty as patriotic citizens.”

“I spoke with our soldiers in Sierra Leone and Liberia more than 20 years ago, and I can vouch for the fact that we presented and continue to parade some of the most valiant armies in Africa and the world today.”

Unfortunately, Nigerian politicians have turned them into ragtags.

In response to growing worries about insecurity in the nation, the Ondo State Police Command has started a strategic evaluation of its formations at border villages in the state.
It claimed that its response complied with Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun’s order, which required police commissioners across the country to guarantee the security of schools, vital assets, all government property, and police facilities.
Adobowale Lawal, the commissioner of the Ondo State Police, took his team on a “comprehensive assessment tour” of the state’s key facilities on Saturday.

The commissioner examined the current security measures throughout the exercise and emphasized the necessity of ongoing development to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being.
He mentioned that the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, was helping the authorities take steps to improve the welfare of the employees working at the facilities in order to increase their efficacy.
The facilities and formations of the Force in and around the Akoko region of Ondo State are the police facilities that were visited.
Mr. Lawal engaged with police and management staff throughout the trips, evaluated the security architecture in place, and praised the staff for their commitment and expertise.
In order to improve operational effectiveness and guarantee the ongoing protection of people and property, he also promised to upgrade the current security systems.
All tactical units, Area Commands, and Divisional Police Headquarters covering the aforementioned locations have been instructed to do routine supervision inspections and submit thorough situational reports to the Command, according to Police PPRO Olayinka Ayanlade.
“This proactive measure is intended to ensure the early detection of emerging security concerns, strengthen coordination, and sustain vigilance,” he stated.
Additionally, the commissioner visited the Eti Ose hamlet near the Ondo-Edo border to examine continuing security measures.
In addition, he praised the policemen and troops on duty for their perseverance and assured them of his steadfast support for their efforts to protect the state.
Following the recent attack by bandits on the Christ Apostolic Church in Oke-Igan, Eruku, in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, tensions have been high in Ondo State and its surrounding areas.
About 35 people are said to have been kidnapped by the bandits, who are now seeking N100 million in ransom for each victim.
The pace of instability, which has already been exacerbated by kidnappings in the region, has also increased due to rumors of bandit infiltration in southern Nigeria.

The school administration verified on Sunday that fifty students who were kidnapped from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State, had managed to free themselves from their captors and reunited with their families.

According to reports, the escape occurred just a few days after gunmen broke into the school and kidnapped 303 children, causing national indignation and escalating calls for increased school security.

The students did not return to the school grounds after escaping between Friday and Saturday, according to school officials. Rather, every child either returned home or was located in neighboring areas.

In order to establish that the children had returned safely, the school visited and contacted the parents.

Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) branch in Niger State, acknowledged the situation in an electronically signed update by his media assistant, Daniel Atori.

Although the escape offers some respite, Yohanna cautioned that the problem is far from resolved.

“As much as we receive the return of these 50 children that escaped with some sigh of relief, I urge you all to continue in your prayers for the rescue and safe return of the remaining victims,” he said.

“For the records, we now have 251 primary pupils, 14 secondary students, and 12 teachers still with their abductors,” the Bishop stated, giving a thorough breakdown.

377 of the 430 students in the elementary department are boarders, while the remaining 53 are not.

As of right now, there are 141 students who were not hauled away, in addition to the 50 who managed to escape and have returned home. As of right now, we have 236 students, three additional children who are members of our staff, fourteen secondary students, and a total of 253 children, including twelve staff members who are abductors.

While the remaining victims are being rescued, Yohanna begged for composure.

“I urge you all to continue in your prayers for the rescue and safe return of the remaining victims, even as we receive the return of these 50 children who escaped with some sigh of relief,” he said.

“As we continue to aggressively work with security personnel, community leaders, the government, and pertinent agencies for the safe and prompt return of all abductees, I want to urge everyone to maintain composure and pray.

“May the Lord continue to shield his people from all threats and grant prompt release to those who have been kidnapped.”

The purported army retreat or delayed movement prior to the kidnapping of 25 students from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, has prompted an investigation by the Military High Command.

Mohammed Nasir Idris, the governor of Kebbi State, expressed concerns over the development after stating that security authorities had previously received information from the Department of State Services alerting them to a potential attack.

Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defense Media Operations, said in a statement on Sunday that the Armed Forces had started a thorough examination of military movements and deployment in the region before the incident.

The military is “deeply concerned” about the kidnappings in Kebbi and Niger states, according to a statement titled “DHQ Reassures Nigerians Amid Rising Insecurity, Addresses Alleged Troop Withdrawal in Kebbi State.”

“The Defence Headquarters is deeply concerned about the unfortunate abduction of schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State, and from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Agwara LGA of Niger State,” the DHQ stated. We denounce this behavior and support the impacted communities, the pupils, and their families.

The Armed Forces are actively involved in actions to free the kidnapped students and apprehend those responsible, it further stated.

The DHQ responded to the governor’s accusation by stating, “We are aware of the claim made by the Executive Governor of Kebbi State.” A review is being conducted in accordance with established protocols to elucidate the facts surrounding troop deployment and movements prior to the incident.

It went on to say that intelligence evaluations and the overall security environment are frequently the basis for operational decisions.

“Corrective measures will be taken if any gaps are found,” the statement continued.

To guarantee the safe return of the kidnapped students, the military promised that forces are actively seeking reliable intelligence.

Additionally, it reaffirmed the commitment to strengthening security around schools and vulnerable groups by collaborating closely with state governments, local authorities, and security agencies.

The DHQ acknowledged the general public’s concern and stated that it is still dedicated to bringing peace and stability back to all impacted areas.