School kidnappings haunting examination candidates

A school should be a safe place for learning, discovery and hope, not a hunting ground for criminals. Yet, across Nigeria, the growing menace of school kidnappings is turning classrooms into places of anxiety and examinations into occasions of fear. Beyond the immediate tragedy of abduction lies a less visible but equally devastating consequence: the psychological trauma inflicted on children whose education, confidence and future are being held hostage by insecurity. Pervasive insecurity is bad enough, but its lingering psychological effects on children and examination candidates could undermine academic performance and future development.

Armed criminals and insurgents continue to target educational institutions, particularly in vulnerable communities, abducting pupils, students and teachers for ransom or other criminal purposes. The consequences are felt nationwide, even when attacks occur in isolated communities. Save the Children International reported alarming figures, indicating that at least 10 school kidnappings had occurred across Nigeria between January 2024 and November 2025, affecting approximately 670 children.

In May 2026, gunmen attacked schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and abducted pupils and teachers. Forty-four victims were rescued on July 10 after 56 days in captivity, although two teachers were killed during the ordeal.

Meanwhile, attacks in Askira-Uba, Borno State, reportedly left approximately 44 schoolchildren in captivity in September 2026. The attacks have also forced schools to close, depriving other children of education.

The danger becomes particularly disturbing when students preparing for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations must confront the possibility that their schools could become targets.

In June 2026, gunmen abducted students taking NECO examinations at a secondary school in Lassa, Askira-Uba. The fact that an examination venue could become a site of abduction is not only alarming; it is an indictment of the state of school security and national security.
Fear is an enemy of concentration.

A student who constantly worries about an attack cannot learn with the calmness and confidence required for academic success. Even children who attend school may remain psychologically absent, distracted by rumours, memories of violence and anxiety about their safety.

For others, the fear is so overwhelming that they refuse to attend school. Parents, understandably concerned about their children’s lives, may keep them at home. Repeated school closures and prolonged absences widen learning gaps, increase the risk of dropping out and weaken children’s chances of completing their education. The damage extends beyond examination results. Children exposed to kidnapping and violence may experience nightmares, persistent anxiety, depression, emotional withdrawal and difficulty concentrating.

Those directly affected may require sustained psychological support to rebuild their sense of safety. Without appropriate care, trauma can undermine relationships, social development and the ability to trust others.

What kind of generation are we raising if children associate education with danger rather than opportunity? A generation raised in fear may struggle to develop the confidence, resilience and ambition needed to compete in the modern world.

Poor academic performance can limit access to higher education, employment and other opportunities, while damaged self-esteem may discourage otherwise talented children from pursuing their aspirations.

The consequences are collective. Every child prevented from fulfilling their potential represents a possible loss to science, medicine, technology, public service, entrepreneurship and national development.

God-given talents may remain underutilised, communities may lose future leaders, and the nation may suffer a shortage of skilled, confident citizens. Unaddressed psychological distress can also deepen social problems and weaken community cohesion.

The federal and state governments, security agencies, school authorities, parents and communities must recognise that protecting education requires more than issuing condemnations after every attack.

Intelligence gathering, rapid emergency response, secure school environments, early-warning systems and effective coordination between security agencies and local communities are essential. Vulnerable schools require credible security assessments, safe evacuation procedures, emergency communication systems and adequately trained personnel. Where credible threats exist, authorities must take preventive action without permanently denying children their right to education.

Rescued pupils and affected families must receive professional psychosocial support, while schools need the resources to help traumatised learners return safely to the classroom after thorough counselling and assessment. Nigeria cannot afford to normalise the kidnapping of schoolchildren. Every day that children remain out of school, every examination taken in fear and every parent forced to choose between safety and education brings the country closer to an uncertain future.

The true measure of national security is not merely the absence of gunfire in our cities; it is the confidence with which a child can walk into a classroom and expect to return home safely. Our children deserve an education free from terror. Protecting them is a national obligation. If we fail to secure our schools and heal the minds of our children, we risk sacrificing not only their childhood but also the future of Nigeria itself.