We Will Not Close Borno Schools Because Of Insecurity – NUT

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has said shutting down schools in Borno State over rising insecurity would amount to giving terrorists the victory they seek in their campaign against education.

The National Publicity Secretary of the union, Comrade Yusuf Tom, stated this during an interaction with journalists in Maiduguri, the state’s capital, on Tuesday (today).

According to The PUNCH, Tom, who spoke on behalf of the state chairman, Comrade Zali Garba, said the union had not directed the closure of schools in the state despite the security situation.

He said teachers in Borno remained committed to keeping classrooms open, adding that closing schools would only embolden insurgents and deepen fear among pupils, parents and education workers.

Tom said the NUT would continue to encourage teachers to remain at their duty posts and sustain learning in their respective schools.

According to him, the goal of terrorists is to create fear and force schools to close, but teachers must not allow that objective to succeed.

He said, “We did not order the closure of schools in Borno State. If you close school, it is a victory for fear.

“Therefore, we will continue to encourage our teachers to teach in our respective schools, for us to continue to defeat their game of seeing schools closed. That is what we are agitating for, we are not agitating for the closure of schools.”

Tom noted that while teachers were deeply worried about insecurity, the answer was not to abandon education but to demand stronger protection from the government.

The NUT spokesman said the planned nationwide rally by teachers would give the union an opportunity to press for urgent government action over the rising cases of abductions in schools.

He said the union was particularly concerned about abducted learners in Askira Uba, including pupils and students of Mussa Primary and Secondary School.

Tom said education remained a fundamental right and urged government at all levels to intensify efforts to rescue abducted pupils, students, teachers and other education workers.

He stated, “Education is part of human rights. But in recent times, the reverse is the case, and this is why we are organising this rally to make our voice heard so that our learners in Askira Uba of Mussa Primary and Secondary School will be released unconditionally.

“These children deserve human rights; they deserve protection. We want the government to intensify efforts in rescuing these children, teachers and colleagues in Borno and other states. The protest will take place nationwide and we are in solidarity with that.”

Naija News reports that teachers across the federation were expected to converge on state secretariats on Tuesday for a nationwide protest to demand the unconditional release of abducted teachers and students in Oyo State, Borno State and other parts of the country.

The simultaneous rallies were scheduled to take place in all 36 state capitals.

The protests were organised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers in response to the growing wave of kidnappings targeting schools, pupils, students and education workers.

The action followed a directive from the national leadership of the NUT in a circular dated May 29, 2026, and signed by the union’s President, Audu Amba, and Secretary, Clinton Ikpitibo.

The circular directed all state chapters of the union to stage solidarity rallies to draw national attention to the worsening insecurity affecting schools.

The union said the safety of learners and teachers must remain a priority, especially in states where schools have repeatedly come under attack.

Tom said the rallies were not meant to shut down education but to push the authorities to act decisively and restore confidence in the school system.

He added that teachers would continue to defend the right of every child to learn, while demanding that government provides the security needed for schools to operate safely.