Across parts of northern Nigeria, classrooms sit partially empty or, in some cases, fully closed as insecurity forces students to stay home.
Attacks, abductions and threats have eroded confidence in the safety of schools, leaving families with impossible choices.
The crisis has unfolded over more than a decade. On 14 April. 2014, Boko Haram militants abducted 276 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, drawing global attention and inspiring the #ChibokGirls campaign.
Subsequent attacks deepened the climate of fear. On 19 February, 2018, 112 girls were kidnapped from Government Girls Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe State.
Most were released within a month, but Leah Sharibu remains in captivity.
In December 2020, over 300 students were abducted in Kankara, Katsina State.
In February 2021, 317 girls were taken from a school in Jangebe, Zamfara State. Niger State also witnessed abductions in Kagara, highlighting the geographic spread of insecurity.
According to Amnesty International, at least 15 mass abductions of schoolchildren have occurred across northern Nigeria since 2014.
Save the Children reports that 1,683 learners were abducted between 2014 and 2022, with countless others affected by smaller attacks or threats.
Between December 2020 and December 2021, UNICEF-linked research documented roughly 1,436 schoolchildren and 17 teachers abducted, and over 11,500 schools temporarily closed due to insecurity in northern states.
Schools may close officially after attacks, but often, parents keep children home voluntarily, fearing for their safety. In affected areas, the choice between learning and survival is daily and acute.
Mass Abductions and School Closures
In Papiri, Agwara LGA, Niger State, following the November 2025 abduction of over 300 students and staff, the state government officially closed schools serving more than 50 communities, including government institutions. The students were rescued, but classrooms remain largely unused as fear persists.
“Even though the children have returned, the fear remains. We are still calling on the government to ensure lasting protection before sending our children back to school.
“As it is, many have managed to relocate with their children elsewhere to enable them continue with their education,” a parent said on condition of anonymity.
In Borgu LGA, schools in Borgu town continue to operate, but parents in surrounding communities report that bandits instructed them to withdraw their children from western education, warning that failure to comply could result in attacks or death.
“We have to obey the instructions if we want to stay alive. Sending our children to school could be dangerous.
“We are calling on the government to protect our communities so we can go back to normal life. We can’t just watch the future of our children slip away,” a parent from the area told DAILY POST.
In Kankara and Batsari LGAs, Katsina State, insecurity has forced multiple school closures. In Maga LGA, Kebbi State, 25 girls were abducted in November 2025; they were rescued, but one vice principal was killed.
Attendance in surrounding schools remains low. Even in towns where schools are officially open, attendance is sporadic, as parents assess the risk of sending children along unsafe routes.
The Psychological Toll and Learning Gap
The trauma of abductions and threats has lasting effects, with children returning to school often displaying anxiety, withdrawal and difficulty concentrating.
Teachers report that affected students struggle to catch up academically and socially.
Teachers themselves face safety challenges, with many avoiding postings in high-risk areas, leaving shortages of trained educators in affected areas.
Where staff remain, they often face long, dangerous routes to reach classrooms.
Temporary learning centers, child-friendly spaces, and trauma counseling programmes by UNICEF and Save the Children attempt to bridge learning gaps.
Teachers receive training in psychosocial support and trauma-informed education. Despite these interventions, capacity is limited, and families continue to prioritize safety over formal schooling.
Girls Most at Risk
Girls disproportionately bear the burden of insecurity as fear keeps many at home, increasing the risk of early marriage, child labour and long-term educational gaps.
UNICEF reports that of the estimated 10.5 million primary-age children out of school nationwide, 60% are girls, mostly in northern states where insecurity is highest in Nigeria.
Informal learning programmes cannot replace structured education. Without safe, consistent schooling, girls risk lifelong disadvantages.
Confirmed Areas of Concern
Papiri, Agwara LGA: Government-mandated closures for over 50 communities; rescued students remain out of classrooms.
Borgu LGA: Schools in town operate; neighbouring communities withdraw children under threat from armed groups.
Kankara, Katsina State: Partial closures following abductions.
Jangebe, Zamfara State: Schools reopened post-rescue; attendance remains patchy.
Maga, Kebbi State: Low attendance after abductions; one staff fatality reported.
NGOs and Government Responses
UNICEF, Save the Children, and local NGOs provide temporary learning centers, psychosocial support, and teacher training to affected areas in the country.
Community protection initiatives and early warning systems aim to prevent further abductions.
Authorities have implemented phased school reopenings and increased patrols.
Yet, families remain cautious, emphasizing the need for credible and consistent security to rebuild trust.
Parents in Agwara and Borgu stress that security presence must be consistent and credible to restore confidence, arguing that directives alone do not ease fear.
Consequences of Prolonged Insecurity
Children face educational disruption, trauma, and lost social development. Teachers’ absences exacerbate learning gaps just as communities lose productive potential as a generation misses school.
Without urgent intervention, northern Nigeria risks a “lost generation,” particularly girls, whose absence from school perpetuates social and economic inequalities.
Restoring Trust and Ensuring Safe Learning
Reclaiming classrooms requires coordinated government action, NGO support, and community engagement.
Education is vital not just academically but as a safeguard of childhoods, resilience, and social stability.
Until families trust that schools are safe, classrooms will remain underused, and children’s education will continue to suffer.
Out of school: Concerns as millions of children face bleak future in Northern Nigeria
