Nigeria’s schools reopened on September 14 following federal assurances that adequate security measures were in place. However, some Christian schools delayed reopening as renewed attacks near their communities intensified fears of kidnapping and terrorism.

The Federal Ministry of Education announced that all Federal Unity Colleges would resume the academic session as scheduled. The ministry said security agencies had been alerted and that increased vigilance would help protect students, teachers, and other school staff.

In Kaduna State, however, some church-run schools postponed reopening because of recent attacks in surrounding communities.

Rev. Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria, told globalvoice that at least one church school delayed resumption after repeated attacks occurred nearby.

“The surrounding environment where one of our church schools is located was attacked multiple times in the last three weeks by terrorists. We had to take a decision to defer resumption by a week,” Rev. Hayab told globalvoice.

He said the attacks have created significant anxiety among parents who are afraid to send their children back to school.

“Realistically speaking, there’s so much anxiety and doubt in the minds of many parents to send their children to school.”

Security Concerns Force Some Schools to Delay Reopening

Across Nigeria’s northern and Middle Belt regions, church leaders and school administrators in conflict-affected communities face difficult decisions about reopening.

For some schools, returning students to classrooms without adequate physical security measures is viewed as a serious risk, particularly in communities where kidnapping and terrorist attacks remain concerns.

Rev. Hayab said he contacted the State Security Service (SSS) before deciding whether his school should reopen.

“I had to call the State Security Service (SSS) to discuss the fears and seek professional advice before we open. Terrorists are still on the rampage, kidnapping people, and no parent wants a situation where their child is taken for ransom.”

He described the dilemma facing families in communities affected by insecurity.

“Every parent in communities experiencing terror attacks faces a twofold challenge: the fear of having your child not educated, and the fear of having your child going to school and getting kidnapped.”

The problem extends beyond the school compound. Families with financial resources may be able to consider schools in safer locations, while parents living in communities affected by repeated attacks may have few practical alternatives.

Nigeria’s Safe Schools Program Faces Security Challenges

Concerns about school safety are rooted in Nigeria’s long history of attacks and mass kidnappings targeting educational institutions.

According to the figures cited in the report, 78 percent of public schools nationwide operate without perimeter fencing, while 65 percent lack trained security guards.

At least 758 students, teachers, and other academic staff have reportedly been abducted in targeted attacks since President Bola Tinubu took office in May 2023.

The threat has continued in 2026.

On May 15, 45 students and staff were reportedly abducted from three schools in Oyo State, while another 78 children were taken from two schools in Borno State on the same day.

Nigeria has also established the National Plan on Financing Safe Schools, a $90 million initiative intended to strengthen security in vulnerable learning environments. However, the report says direct federal capital releases for the program have fallen sharply in recent budget cycles.

National Safe Schools coordinators also told lawmakers that the program received no capital allocations during consecutive fiscal years.

Dennis Amachree, a former Assistant Director of Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS), told globalvoice that security agencies face significant manpower challenges.

“The police do not have the manpower to cover all the schools in the country,” Amachree said.

He added that rural schools are often particularly vulnerable because security personnel are limited in many remote communities.

“The most exposed institutions are typically those in rural communities, where law enforcement presence is thin or entirely absent.”

School Kidnappings Raise Wider Concerns About Education in Nigeria

The expansion of school-related insecurity beyond Nigeria’s traditional conflict hotspots has increased concerns about the safety of students nationwide.

Attacks and kidnappings affecting schools can have consequences beyond the immediate danger to students and teachers. Prolonged school closures can disrupt education, increase pressure on families, and limit children's access to opportunities.

For parents in communities affected by terrorism and kidnapping, the decision to send children to school can therefore involve competing risks: protecting children from immediate danger while ensuring they do not lose access to education.

Education and security experts have repeatedly warned that attacks on schools can have long-term consequences for communities and national development.

Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO, has also highlighted the growing threat to educational institutions in conflict zones, noting that schools should provide children with safety and opportunities to build their futures.

“Schools should offer children safety, friendship, and the chance to imagine a future,” El-Enany said in an official statement on school protection.

Parents Face Difficult Choices as Nigeria Schools Reopen

As Nigerian schools resume classes amid continued security concerns, parents in affected communities face difficult decisions about whether their children can safely return to the classroom.

Government authorities have emphasized security measures and increased vigilance, while some church leaders have chosen to delay reopening until they receive greater assurances about local conditions.

The situation highlights a broader challenge for Nigeria: ensuring that children can access education without exposing them to unacceptable security risks.

As Rev. Joseph Hayab put it:

“Why should they continue to hold the whole nation to ransom while the government has not done enough?”