The Southwest leadership of the Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria has expressed concern over the growing wave of insecurity affecting schools across the country, particularly in the Southwest region, warning that the situation poses a serious threat to education and national development.
In a statement signed by the Southwest President of APSON, Oyeyemi Aduwo, the association described education as the bedrock of national growth and societal transformation, stressing that unrestricted access to learning remains vital for the transmission of knowledge, values and culture to younger generations.
According to the association, the increasing cases of attacks and abductions in schools are undermining efforts to provide a safe and conducive environment for learning.
APSON recalled that since the 2014 abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok, armed groups ranging from insurgents to criminal gangs have continued to target schools for ransom and other motives.
The association cited several recent incidents, including the November 2025 attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, where more than 300 students and teachers were reportedly abducted by gunmen.
Although some of the victims later escaped or were rescued, APSON noted that the incident exposed major weaknesses in the country’s educational security system.
The association also referenced the abduction of at least 25 girls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, as well as the kidnapping of 12 teenage girls in Borno State.
Most recently, APSON highlighted the reported invasion of three schools in Ahoró-Esinele, Oriire Local Government Area of Ogbomoso in Oyo State in May 2026.
The affected schools included Baptist Nursery and Primary School, L.A. Primary School and Community Grammar School, with several pupils, students and teachers reportedly left traumatised after the attack.
The association warned that persistent insecurity around schools could worsen Nigeria’s already high number of out-of-school children, estimated by UNICEF at between 18.3 and 20 million nationwide.
According to APSON, many parents may become reluctant to send their children to school if urgent measures are not taken to guarantee safety in learning environments.
The association therefore called on the Federal Government, state governments, local governments and relevant stakeholders to prioritise the protection of lives and property, strengthen support for schools to improve security infrastructure and implement economic relief programmes capable of reducing crime and social unrest among youths.
APSON maintained that safeguarding schools remains critical to protecting the future of Nigerian children and ensuring sustainable national development.
