Fresh concerns have been raised over the future of education in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State as United Nations Children Emergency Funds (UNICEF), religious leaders, parents and community members called on the Federal and State Governments to urgently beef up security and establish a military base in the area.
According to UNICEF, about 10.5 million Nigerian children aged between 5 and 14 are currently out of school. Only 61 percent of children aged 6–11 attend primary school regularly, while just 35.6 percent of children aged 3–5 receive early childhood education. The situation is worse in northern Nigeria, where school attendance stands at about 53 percent.
Findings show that Agwara and parts of Borgu Local Government Areas have no military base, while the police in the area are poorly equipped, understaffed and lack vehicles and weapons to confront bandits. There is also said to be poor coordination among security agencies, making rapid response to attacks difficult.
This security gap has badly affected St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, the only well-equipped school serving over 50 communities, some as far as 100 kilometres away.
Following the abduction of over 200 students and teachers and the recent killing of 42 people in Kasuwan Daji, just 15 kilometres from Papiri, fear has forced many residents of Papiri, Guffanti, Sokonbara and Bako-Mission to flee their homes.
Although about 40 mobile policemen are currently deployed to Papiri, residents say this is not enough to defend the area against heavily armed bandits who operate freely, sometimes in large numbers.
The Niger State Government has directed that schools under security threat should remain closed, raising fears that St. Mary’s School, Papiri, may be shut down permanently if security is not improved.
The Proprietor of the school and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, thanked the Federal and State Governments, security agencies and the media for helping to secure the release of the abducted students and teachers.
However, he urged the government to quickly reopen the school with strong security protection.
Speaking during an interview, Bishop Yohanna, who is also the Chairman of CAN in Niger State, appealed for the immediate establishment of a military outpost in Agwara.
“This school was established for our children, regardless of religion or tribe, to give them a better future. Let us not allow their dreams to die because of insecurity. All the government needs to do is to beef up security so that our children and teachers can learn in a safe environment,” he said.
Also reacting, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, described the abduction of the students and teachers as a grave violation of human rights, especially the right to education, and called for stronger protection of schools and civilians.
Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Barrister Maurice Magaji, said the government is working to restore security in Agwara, Borgu and other troubled areas but noted that lives must come before reopening schools.
“As soon as there is calm, schools will be reopened in phases,” he said.
A chieftain of the APC in the state, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, also called for the establishment of a military and naval base and deployment of marine police in Agwara, warning that the River Niger has become a major escape route for criminals.
Parents and teachers have continued to express fear and frustration.
One of the teachers, Cyril Ibrahim, said the school serves more than 50 communities and appealed to the government to secure the area so the school can continue.
Another teacher, Mrs. Hannah Tevi, who was abducted alongside her son and husband, described the experience as traumatic and said many teachers now sleep in the bush at night for fear of attack.
A parent, Mr. Markus Abuka, whose only child was abducted and later rescued, said families are now living in constant fear and appealed for a joint military and security base to protect the area.
Another parent, Livinus Samaila, warned that without urgent action, thousands of children will be denied education and many communities may be abandoned.
Some of the students, including Florence Michael and Felicia Musa, said they want to return to school and not be forced back to farm work because of insecurity.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has condemned the Kasuwan Daji killings and directed the security chiefs to track down and arrest the attackers and rescue all abducted victims. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, during a visit to Niger State, promised additional support and resources to tackle insecurity.
Governor Umaru Bago described the attacks as disturbing and worrying, especially at the beginning of the year.
For now, residents of Agwara say only a permanent military and security presence can save their communities and protect the future of their children’s education in Agwara.