By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Nigeria’s Security Woes Deepen as ADC Says School Shutdowns Show Govt’s Failure
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Nigerian government for ordering the shutdown of schools in several states, saying the decision is clear proof that authorities can no longer guarantee the safety of citizens.
Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme monitored by Africaworldnews, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, faulted the Federal Government for treating school closures as a solution to worsening insecurity.
Abdullahi argued that shutting down schools because of fear of bandit raids sends the wrong message about the government’s capacity to protect children.
According to him, “When you close schools because bandits might kidnap children, what you are announcing to the world is that you can no longer keep school environments safe.”
He warned that such actions unintentionally support the ideology of Boko Haram, a group violently opposed to Western education.
“So, by closing schools, you are reinforcing what Boko Haram has preached for years,” he added.
Abdullahi also claimed that President Bola Tinubu’s recent moves to intensify security operations were prompted by pressure from the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
He dismissed suggestions that the ADC was working with external forces or encouraging insecurity in Nigeria.
Nigeria has struggled with violent attacks on schools for over a decade, beginning with Boko Haram raids in the North-East and later expanding to banditry across the North-West and North-Central regions.
Schoolchildren remain easy targets for criminal groups seeking ransom, forcing state governments to close schools temporarily whenever security threats escalate.
The latest closure came after the abduction of dozens of schoolgirls during an attack on November 17, an incident that also claimed the life of the Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku.
The girls were freed on Tuesday, bringing relief but also renewing debates over the government’s ability to protect learning spaces.
Amid rising public anxiety and repeated attacks across the country, President Tinubu on Wednesday declared a nationwide security emergency, promising stronger military operations and tighter community protection.
However, the ADC insists that emergency declarations are not enough and warns that Nigeria cannot afford a future where children stay home because the government cannot secure their classrooms.
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