Our Schools Are Safe, Fubara Reassures Teachers Following Rivers NUT Protests Over Insecurity

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured teachers and students of continued protection in schools across the state, following growing concerns over attacks on educational institutions and the abduction of teachers and pupils in parts of Nigeria.

The governor gave the assurance on Tuesday when members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Rivers State Wing, staged a peaceful protest at the Government House in Port Harcourt. The demonstration formed part of a nationwide campaign by the union to draw attention to the increasing insecurity facing schools and education workers across the country.

Carrying placards with various messages, the teachers expressed solidarity with colleagues and students reportedly kidnapped from schools in Oyo State and other parts of Nigeria. They also mourned a teacher said to have been killed during one of the attacks.

Represented by the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, Governor Fubara said his administration remains committed to safeguarding schools and ensuring that teachers can carry out their duties without fear.

According to him, the state government has continued to collaborate with security agencies to strengthen security around educational institutions and prevent incidents of kidnapping and violence.

He assured the protesters that Rivers State would sustain efforts aimed at protecting both teachers and pupils, while also expressing hope that ongoing measures by the Federal Government and security agencies would lead to the safe release of those currently in captivity.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Rivers State NUT Secretary, Comrade Bassey Asuquo, described the demonstration as a solemn expression of support for teachers and students affected by recent attacks.

He lamented the worsening security situation facing educators, noting that many teachers now leave for work each day uncertain of their safety.

“The school environment is meant to be a place of learning and development, not a scene of violence and fear,” Asuquo said. “The attacks on schools are not only crimes against individuals but also direct assaults on the future of the nation.”

He warned against treating such incidents as isolated occurrences, citing similar attacks on schools in other parts of the country.

The union called for the immediate and unconditional release of all abducted teachers and students, while urging both federal and state governments to take stronger action to secure schools nationwide.

Among its demands were the deployment of adequate security personnel to public schools and the implementation of a comprehensive national school safety policy designed to protect students, teachers and educational infrastructure from attacks, abductions and other forms of violence.

The protest ended peacefully, with the union reiterating its commitment to advocating safer learning environments for teachers and students across Nigeria.