Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has assured teachers, pupils and students of adequate security across schools in the state, following growing concerns over attacks on educational institutions and the abduction of teachers and pupils in parts of the country.
The assurance came as members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Rivers State Wing, staged a peaceful protest in Port Harcourt to condemn the recent abduction of teachers and pupils in Oyo State and other security-related incidents affecting schools nationwide.
The protest formed part of a nationwide action by the NUT to draw attention to the plight of teachers and pupils abducted from schools in Oyo State and to demand stronger measures to safeguard learning environments across the country.
Protesters marched to the Government House carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Government Should Rise Up To Its Security Responsibilities” and “Teachers Deserve Security, Not Fear,” expressing solidarity with abducted colleagues and victims of attacks on schools.
Addressing the protesters through the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, Governor Fubara said the state government was working closely with security agencies to ensure the safety of schools and prevent incidents of attacks and abductions in Rivers State.
He assured teachers that the government would continue to prioritise the security of educational institutions and urged them to remain patient as efforts intensify to secure the release of abducted teachers and pupils in Oyo State.
The governor noted that security remains a collective responsibility and pledged continued support for measures aimed at protecting teachers, students and school facilities across the state.
Earlier, the Secretary of the NUT in Rivers State, Mr. Bassey Asuquo, described the protest as a solemn march in honour of a slain teacher and in solidarity with abducted teachers and pupils still in captivity.
Asuquo lamented what he described as the increasing vulnerability of teachers across Nigeria, warning that attacks on schools threaten the future of education and national development.
“The school is supposed to be a sanctuary, a place where the future of our nation is nurtured and prepared for greatness. What happened in Oyo State is not only a crime against education but an assault on our collective future,” he said.
He added that attacks on schools were no longer isolated incidents, citing similar cases in other parts of the country and calling for urgent action to halt the trend.
The union demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all abducted teachers and pupils and urged federal and state governments to strengthen security around schools nationwide.
The NUT also called for the deployment of adequate security personnel to public schools and the implementation of a comprehensive national school safety policy to protect students, teachers and educational infrastructure from attacks, kidnappings and other forms of violence.
The protest comes amid heightened concern over insecurity in parts of the country and renewed calls for stronger measures to safeguard schools and learning environments.
By Blessing Ibunge
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