By Gloria Emmanuel The national leadership of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has slammed the Federal Government and security agencies over what the Union described as the inability of the government to secure the Nigerian schools, thereby making innocent students vulnerable to heinous activities of insurgents raging in the North East.
National President of NUT, Michael Olukoya, said the union is particularly saddened with the suicide attack on Government Science Technical School, Yobe, on Monday, killing over 48 students and several others injured.
In a press statement made available to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, Olukoya recalled that the Monday attack has made it the fifth of such gruesome attacks on schools, leaving so many students dead and scores of others maimed and injured.
According to him, “The leadership of NUT is outraged by the inability of the Nation’s security operative to sufficiently address the frequent bombing incident in schools which has again occurred at Government Science Technical School Potiskum, Yobe State in the morning of 10th November, 2014 with over 50 fatalities and over 70 injured.
“This incident makes it the fifth attack on school in the State within the last one year and the Union strongly demands for coordinated actions to protect our children and the school environment,” he stated.
The statement signed by the NUT Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Hwande, noted that the Nigerian teachers were greatly traumatised by the spate of attacks on schools and wanton killing of students and teachers by the terrorists.
Besides, NUT is worried that it is now about 212 days since over 200 Chibok schoolgirls were kidnapped by Boko Haram without hope of their rescue to continue with their education.
The NUT President said it was most unfortunate that despite assurances by both the Federal Government and security agencies these killings have continued unabated, while also commiserating with the families of the victims.
In his words, “It is unfortunate that in spite of assurances from government, the attacks and killings in our schools by the insurgents has persisted”.
He, therefore urged the Government to expedite implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative as to improve the security situation in the nation’s schools especially those in the North East, making schools safe and the students protected.
Olukoya, equally called on all well-meaning Nigerians to assist in appealing to the insurgents to leave our innocent children alone and allow them to live their life saying, “The children are ignorant hence their lives should be spared.
“With these happenings, it has become expedient to call on various tiers of government to provide adequate security in our schools and insurances policies for the teachers and students. A stitch in time saves nine.
“We commiserate with all the bereaved parents and pray for the souls of the departed innocent students, our heart goes with them,” he said.
