Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has condemned the abduction of a school principal, students and a National Examinations Council (NECO) official during an examination in Kogi State, describing the incident as a grim reflection of Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.
In a statement shared on his official social media page on Wednesday, Obi said the attack, which occurred while students were writing their NECO examination, underscores the growing insecurity threatening the nation’s education sector.
He lamented that schools, which should serve as safe spaces for learning and development, are increasingly becoming targets of criminal attacks.
“The news of the abduction of a school principal, students, and a NECO official in Kogi State while the students were writing their examination is both heartbreaking and deeply troubling,” Obi said.
He added that the incident highlights the extent to which insecurity has eroded the safety of educational institutions across the country.
“That innocent children can no longer go to school, study, or sit for a national examination without the fear of criminal violence is a stark reminder of how far insecurity has eroded the sanctity of our educational institutions and the safety of our citizens,” he stated.
Obi urged security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the victims, calling for the deployment of every available resource to ensure their safe and unconditional release.
He also appealed to the federal and state governments to strengthen security around schools to prevent similar attacks and restore public confidence in the education system.
“Our schools must never become theatres of fear; they should symbolise hope and the promise of a better future, not terror and uncertainty,” he said.
Expressing sympathy to the families of the abducted victims, the affected school community and the people of Kogi State, Obi warned against allowing attacks on schools to become a recurring reality.
“A nation that cannot guarantee the safety of its children is mortgaging its future,” he added.
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