Kogi School Attack: Atiku Calls for Declaration of Emergency on Education

Former Vice President and  presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has decried the worsening state of insecurity in Nigeria, expressing serious concern that the terrorists and bandits attacks are now targeted at not only wasting precious human lives but crippling the country’s  education.

Atiku raised the concern on Wednesday following the latest attack on Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, in which three persons, including the Vice Principal of the school, and two others were killed while several students  were abducted.

In a statement, the Atiku Media Office recalled that on May 15, 2026, not less than 90 school children were  abducted in Oriire, Oyo State and Mussa, Borno State and the principal in the Oriire school beheaded.

The ADC presidential candidate in the 2027 election expressed worry about the disturbing pattern in the attacks which he maintained, were clearly aimed at  crippling the country’s education sector and consequently stalling  development strides.

The former Vice President, therefore, called for the declaration of emergency on security in Nigeria but noted that the envisaged state of emergency on security should not include the suspension of elected officials of states.

According to the Waziri Adamawa, the latest attack on a school in Kogi State was a direct threat to education and a colossal national embarrassment that demanded urgent and drastic action.

“It is high time the Federal Government declared a statement of emergency to empower commanders with more freedom to act decisively and proactively with these monsters in the county,” Atiku said.

 “I am not in any way calling for the removal of elected officials, but rather advocating for commanders to have freer hand to protect their battlefield decisions from political interference.”

The ADC Presidential candidate explained that “Nigeria is facing worsening insecurity that demands extraordinary measures, including state of emergency.

“Learning can only take place in a safe environment and terrorist attacks on schools are increasingly making our schools dangerous places. Worse still, the anxiety and trauma that follow terrorist attacks on schools will inevitably make the school environment unsafe for both students and teachers.

 “Under no circumstances, should we allow terrorists or bandits to destroy our way of life and stop our children from going to school.”

The former Vice President added that “a terrorist attack on one one school is a threat to schools elsewhere across the country because of its domino-effect.”

As part of the drastic measures to address these security challenges, Atiku advocated the establishment of national guards made up of retired veterans to complement the efforts of our military and police that are clearly overstretched and under-manned.”

He also called for improved human intelligence on terrorist movements and greater community vigilance, explaining that “our communities have a great role to play in information sharing and eternal vigilance.”