Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has decried the worsening wave of attacks on schools across Nigeria following the violent raid on Government Secondary School, Iluke in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, where armed men reportedly killed the Vice Principal and attempted to abduct students during WAEC examinations.
Obi described the incident as part of a disturbing pattern in which schools are increasingly becoming soft targets for armed groups, warning that the trend is pushing the country deeper into what he termed a “ransom-driven economy” that thrives on fear, disruption, and mass abductions.
According to reports, the attackers stormed the school in military-style disguise, triggering panic among students and staff. However, swift resistance from local security operatives and community vigilantes reportedly disrupted the mass abduction attempt, preventing what could have been another large-scale kidnapping.
The former Anambra State governor warned that repeated assaults on educational institutions are not only claiming lives but also eroding public confidence in the safety of schools, worsening Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis and disproportionately affecting girls who are often withdrawn due to insecurity concerns.
He extended condolences to the family of the slain Vice Principal, describing him as a man who died in the line of duty while trying to protect the students under his care, and called for urgent, coordinated action to restore safety in learning environments nationwide.