UNENDING TERROR ATTACKS, SCHOOL ABDUCTIONS AND THE SHUTDOWN OF 41 UNITY COLLEGES: A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF GOVERNANCE

PRESS STATEMENT

UNENDING TERROR ATTACKS, SCHOOL ABDUCTIONS AND THE SHUTDOWN OF 41 UNITY COLLEGES: A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF GOVERNANCE

The Take It Back Movement is gravely alarmed by the worsened state of insecurity across the country, marked by a wave of attacks on worshippers, mass abductions of schoolchildren, and the unprecedented closure of 41 Federal Unity Colleges due to mounting threats.

These tragic developments reflect a catastrophic collapse of national security and an unforgivable dereliction of duty by those charged with protecting the Nigerian people.

In Kwara State, armed terrorists invaded a church in Eruku during a worship service, killing innocent citizens and abducting several others, including the pastor. That such an atrocity could occur in a sacred place of worship underscores the depth of insecurity now confronting ordinary Nigerians, even in spaces traditionally considered safe and sacred.

In Niger State, over 200 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area. The scale of this attack, executed with chilling confidence, mirrors previous mass school kidnappings and exposes the vulnerability of children seeking nothing more than an education.

Similarly, in Kebbi State, 25 schoolgirls were taken from their dormitories in a night-time raid that left the vice-principal dead. Despite years of repeated tragedies, the country continues to witness the same patterns of violence, the same tactical failures, and the same lack of accountability from those entrusted with safeguarding lives.

Compounding these crises is the Federal Government’s decision to shut down 41 Federal Unity Colleges due to escalating security concerns. While the protection of students is paramount, the closure of so many schools is a stark admission that the government can no longer guarantee the safety of the Nigerian people.

The Take It Back Movement condemns these incidents in the strongest possible terms. No society can thrive where children cannot attend school safely, where worshippers cannot gather without fear, and where entire institutions are shut down because the state is unable to protect them. Nigeria is facing a national emergency, and denial or cosmetic actions will not resolve it.

The Nigerian state now stands at a crossroad, it has failed. Its sovereignty, threatened by internal insurgents, and external aggression. A people’s revolution is the alternative left to salvage Nigeria’s democracy and national sovereignty.

Signed,
Sanyaolu Juwon
National Coordinator,
Take It Back Movement