Education foundation condemns Nigeria school attacks

The Education Above All Foundation is urging urgent protection for schools in Nigeria after another armed attack in Borno state left students and staff missing. The group says the violence shows a widening threat to education and calls for stronger action ahead of a global day focused on protecting schools from attack.

Why it matters: - The attack on Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, Borno State, targeted students while they were sitting national examinations. - The assault adds to a growing pattern of school violence in Nigeria that is disrupting learning, killing and injuring children and educators, and fueling fear in communities. - The Education Above All Foundation says protecting education is a legal obligation and critical to children's futures and stable societies.

What happened: - Armed assailants attacked Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, northeast Nigeria. - The Borno State Government said 37 people remain in captivity. - Those still missing include 36 students, made up of 25 girls and 11 boys, plus one school staff member. - Eight people, including the school’s vice principal, were rescued. - The attack killed at least one teacher and one soldier.

The details: - In May 2026, armed militants attacked Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba, Borno State, abducting 42 children. - That May attack included 32 pupils from the school and 10 children from nearby homes. - Also in May, armed men attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State, abducting 39 pupils, seven teachers and a two-year-old child. - In the Oyo State attack, at least one teacher was killed and another reportedly died in captivity. - Less than a month later, three people were killed in a school attack in Kogi state, including the vice principal, a 70-year-old man and a 6-year-old child. - EAA Foundation called for the immediate and unconditional release of all students and education personnel still being held. - EAA Foundation also called for accountability for those responsible and stronger national and international action to protect schools, learners and educators. - The foundation said attacks on education continue to rise globally, citing the Education under Attack 2026 report. - The report recorded more than 8,566 attacks on education during 2024-2025. - Those attacks harmed at least 10,600 students and education personnel. - The report said that figure represents a 40% increase from the 2022-23 period. - In Nigeria, at least 90 students, teachers and other education staff were killed or injured during the 2024-2025 reporting period. - The number of students and staff abducted in Nigeria rose sharply to over 700 during that period. - Military use of schools continued in Nigeria and in some cases led to later attacks by opposing forces. - The International Day to Protect Education from Attack will be observed on September 9, 2026, in Doha under the theme, "Can Education Survive Attack? The Resilience of Human Communities." - For more information, see the company's announcement.

Between the lines: - The repeated attacks suggest Nigeria’s school security problem is widening beyond one region and one type of target. - The rise in abductions and the continued use of schools for military purposes point to a cycle that makes education more vulnerable to future attacks. - The timing ahead of the September observance gives the foundation a global platform to push governments toward action, not just condemnation.

What's next: - EAA Foundation is pressing for immediate release of those still held and for accountability measures against attackers. - The foundation says Nigeria needs stronger early warning systems and preventative action plans to make schools more resilient. - The September 9 observance in Doha is expected to spotlight attacks on education and the need for sustained protection and investment.

The bottom line: - Nigeria’s school attacks are no longer isolated incidents. They are part of a sustained crisis that is putting students, teachers and the future of education at risk.