Plan condemns the wave of attacks on schools in Nigeria
20 May 2026Plan International strongly condemns the attack on schools across 2 states in Nigeria. No child should fear going to school. We urge government and security agencies to take swift action to strengthen the protection of schools and ensure accountability for attacks on children and educational facilitators.
In Oyo State, gunmen reportedly abducted 46 people, including 7 teachers and 39 students, killing 1 teacher and in Borno State 42 people, many who are children aged between 2 and 5 years old are also reported to have been abducted, both on Friday, 15 May. Verification of the total number of children and students is still underway.
Commenting on the attack Dr. Charles Usie, Country Director of Plan International Nigeria said;
“These attacks are grave violations of children’s rights to a safe education and highlight the growing insecurity affecting schools across Nigeria.
“They are deeply distressing and wholly unacceptable. No child should have to fear going to school, and no teacher should risk their life while educating children,”
Recurring school attacks and abductions
“The Oyo State incident occurred on the same day that suspected non-state armed groups reportedly attacked schools in Borno State – where children as young as 2 have been reported missing. We understand schools in the area have been temporarily closed and understandably there is a heightened sense of fear amongst children, parents and teachers in the affected communities.
These incidents form part of a recurring pattern of attacks on schools and mass abductions of students across Nigeria, including major cases recorded in Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara in recent years. The repeated targeting of schools and children’s spaces threatens not only the safety and wellbeing of children, but also the future of communities and the next generation. Schools must remain places of learning, growth, and opportunity, not sites of violence and terror.
Urgent action needed to strengthen school protection
“We urge the government and security agencies to take urgent, decisive action to strengthen the protection of schools and ensure accountability for attacks on children and educational facilitators.
“These incidents underscore the urgent need for stronger implementation of existing school safety policies and commitments, including the Safe Schools Declaration. We must move beyond paper pledges to concrete action that protects children, teachers, and schools across the country.
Plan International calls upon the Federal Government, state governments, and security agencies for:
- Immediate action to secure the safe release of abducted children, teachers, and school personnel
- Stronger security and early warning systems around schools and vulnerable communities
- Full implementation and adequate funding of the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools
- Accelerated implementation of commitments under the Safe Schools Declaration
- Psychosocial support and protection services for affected students, teachers, and families
- Increased investment in long-term solutions that address the root causes of insecurity and attacks on education
Nigeria endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration in 2015, but repeated attacks show commitments must be matched by stronger implementation.
Plan International stands in solidarity with affected children, families, teachers, and communities during this difficult time and remains committed to advancing children’s rights and ensuring that every child can access safe, inclusive, and uninterrupted education.”
Categories: Emergencies, Protection from violence
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