Nigeria continues to face a growing security crisis in its education sector, with at least 2,416 students kidnapped in 26 mass school attacks recorded between April 2014 and May 2026, according to data compiled by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) from ACLED and media reports.
The figures highlight the persistent threat posed by armed groups targeting schools across several states, particularly in northern Nigeria, while recent incidents in the South-West show that the crisis is spreading beyond its traditional hotspots.
According to the data, Borno State recorded the highest number of abducted students, largely due to the infamous April 2014 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping, in which 276 students were taken. Another 42 students were kidnapped in the state in May 2026.
Zamfara State recorded one of the largest single incidents in February 2021 when 317 students were abducted, while Kaduna State witnessed multiple attacks, including the abduction of 287 students in March 2024.
Other affected states include Yobe, Niger, Katsina, Kano, Sokoto, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Kogi, Ekiti and Oyo.
The report shows that Niger State recorded 430 student abductions across three major incidents, while Katsina State recorded 402 victims in separate attacks between 2020 and 2021. Sokoto State witnessed the abduction of 15 students in March 2024, while Kano State recorded 20 victims in September 2023.
In the North-Central region, Nasarawa State recorded 13 student abductions in two separate incidents between 2023 and 2026, while Kogi State recorded 23 victims in April 2026.
The latest addition to the list is Oyo State, where 39 pupils were reportedly kidnapped in May 2026, further deepening concerns about the spread of insecurity into parts of the country previously considered relatively safe from mass school abductions.
The incident occurred in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where pupils and teachers were reportedly seized by gunmen, sparking widespread outrage among residents, civil society organisations and concerned Nigerians.
The abduction has triggered protests and public demands for urgent action from the government and security agencies. Rights groups and activists have argued that the kidnapping demonstrates the worsening state of insecurity in Nigeria and the vulnerability of schools, especially in rural communities.
Many residents have expressed fears that prolonged captivity of the victims could expose them to trauma and disrupt their education, while families continue to await positive news regarding their safe return.
The repeated targeting of educational institutions has also forced temporary school closures in some areas and contributed to rising numbers of out-of-school children.
Despite the Nigerian government assurances and various security interventions introduced after major incidents such as the Chibok abduction, school kidnappings have continued to occur across different parts of the country.
As anxiety grows among families of the abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State, pressure is mounting on authorities to secure their immediate release and address the broader insecurity crisis affecting schools across Nigeria. On Monday, members of the Take It Back Movement led a mass protest in Oyo State, with reports of similar demonstrations emerging from Abeokuta. The protesters demanded the safe return of all kidnapped victims and pledged to sustain their actions until every abducted pupil and teacher regains freedom.
With 2,416 students kidnapped in 26 documented school attacks over the past 12 years, the figures reveals the scale of a crisis that remains one of the most pressing security and humanitarian challenges facing Nigeria today.
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