School Children Abduction : FONWIP Calls For Urgent School Reforms

  



Former Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development and President of Forum of Nigerian Women in Politics, FONWIP, Hon. Deaconess Amb Florence Gbinigie has called on all stakeholders in Nigeria to convene a Safe Schools Summit.

The  FONWIP President who made the call in a statement in Benin City also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, and all security agencies for the swift operation that led to the rescue of the school children and teacher abducted from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele; and L.A. Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, 2026 and the arrest of 8 suspects. 


According to her, " FONWIP, receives with immense relief the news of the rescue of the children. For weeks, parents, teachers, and communities in Ibadan and across Nigeria lived in fear. The abduction of over 40 pupils and teachers was a direct attack on education and the fundamental right of every child to learn in safety.

"We also appreciate the advocacy of all Non Governmental Organisations, NGO's,   Child Protection Network (CPN), NUT, parents, traditional rulers, and women groups across the country,  who kept the pressure on until our children were returned. 

"Our children and every Nigerian deserve safety, peace and a secure future. We mourn the teacher who lost his life in captivity and pray for the bereaved family. It would be recalled that FONWIP  had earlier issued a statement calling for urgent action to rescue the kidnapped children during the celebration of the African Child June 16 this year." 

While expressing her condolences to the family of the soldier that was killed while they were rescueing the children and teacher, she noted that this rescue must mark the end of school abductions in Oyo State and Nigeria.

The FONWIP President stated there should be preventive measures for all schools in  Nigeria to ensure that schools in Nigeria remain safe havens for learning, 

According to  her,  all State Governments, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Women Affairs, Traditional Institutions, and all stakeholders in Nigeria  should convene a Safe Schools Stakeholders Summit within 30 days. 

"There should be mandatory perimeter fencing, controlled gates, and 24-hour security posts for all public and private schools, Installation of solar-powered lighting and CCTV cameras at strategic points in school premises and Designated safe rooms/emergency shelters in every school for immediate lock down during threats. 

"There should be establishment of School Safety Committees in every school comprising head teachers, PTA, women leaders, religious leaders, vigilantes, NSCDC and the Police DPO. Women must be included as we are often first to notice unusual activity.  

"There should be dedicated emergency hotlines linking every school directly to the nearest police station, Operation Burst, and Amotekun, Public sensitization: If you know something, report it to the appropriate authorities. Timely information can help save lives. 

"There should be deployment of trained security personnel to schools in vulnerable and rural areas across Nigeria, Monthly safety and evacuation drills for pupils and teachers to build readiness and background checks and biometric registration of all school security staff, drivers, and vendors.

"There should be Policy, Welfare and Psycho social Support, Mandatory annual School Safety Audit by all  Ministry of Education for school licensing and renewal, immediate deployment of counselors and medical teams to affected schools to support victims, families, and other pupils and Victims Support Fund for medical care, rehabilitation, and educational continuity for rescued persons.  

"There should be a School Emergency Alert System: A simple USSD/App code  to trigger instant alerts to security agencies and parents, risk mapping of all schools in Nigeria to guide priority deployment of patrols and resources, Joint patrols by Police, NSCDC, Vigilante and local hunters around schools during opening and closing hours.

"There should also be Advocacy and Civic Engagement, Integration of safety education into the school curriculum to teach children personal safety and reporting channels, Mobilization of women groups, market associations, and faith-based organizations for grassroots advocacy on school safety, strengthening of intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration to protect learning environments.

"We believe that education is the foundation of our nation and  schools must never again become targets. Let the rescue of these children be the last time we have to pray for their return from captivity. Every child deserves to go to school and return home safely,"  the FONWIP President added


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