● Student body says mass protests play into kidnappers’ hands, urges unity over disruption as teachers, pupils remain in captivity
The National Association of Nigerian Students has cautioned against calls for a statewide strike and mass protests in Oyo State, warning that shutting down schools and public services will achieve the terrorists’ objective while children and teachers remain in captivity.
In a statement signed by National President Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez on Tuesday, NANS responded to the Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights which urged the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NLC, and TUC to declare protests over the recent abduction of teachers and pupils in the state.
—“This breaks the heart, but shutdown helps kidnappers”—
NANS said it shared the grief and anger of parents, but argued that mass disruption was counterproductive.
“Without an iota of doubt, it breaks the heart to see children sent by their parents and guardians to school to study, end up as pawns and objects of negotiations in the hands of kidnappers,” the statement read.
“Rather than call on labour unions to shut down the country, which is exactly what these terrorists want to achieve, we should… use the period to unite against terrorists and reflect on how to make Nigeria better.”
The student body conceded that protest is a constitutional right, but stressed it must be “exercised responsibly,” especially when pupils’ lives are at stake.
—“Unity, not shutdown”: NANS cites Israel, Civil War—
To buttress its position, NANS pointed to Israel’s response after the October 2023 Hamas attack that killed over 1,000 people and saw hundreds kidnapped.
“When Hamas struck Israel in 2023… Israeli citizens didn’t play into the hands of their attackers by protesting and calling on unions to shut down the country. They forgot all their differences and rallied around the government to hit back at their adversaries,” Afeez said.
He noted that some Israeli hostages spent 738 days in captivity before release, and prayed “God forbid that our children spend a day longer than necessary in the hands of these terrorists.”
NANS also invoked Nigeria’s Civil War and a 2015 prediction that the country would disintegrate. “Between 1967 and 1970, we fought a very bitter civil war… We pulled back from the brink. If we were able unite against doomsday prediction in 2015, we can successfully unite against terrorism in 2026.”
—“Terrorism is not government’s burden alone”—
The association argued that insecurity cannot be left to government alone.
“We have since 2010 carried on as if terrorism is the burden of government. It is high time we changed that mindset. Nigeria is a very blessed country. It is best to unite against terrorism and solve this problem once and for all,” the statement said.
Afeez added: “Governments will come and go. The citizens shall remain.” He expressed confidence that no serious government, “especially in an election year, would… fold its hands and watch terrorists keep children away from their parents.”
—Divergent views expected—
NANS’ position sets it at odds with CDWR and labour groups pushing for confrontation. While NANS frames unity as the fastest route to freeing abducted pupils, critics are likely to argue that strikes remain a legitimate tool to pressure government on security failures.
The debate comes amid rising concern over school abductions across the country. For now, NANS is staking its position on caution, cohesion, and collective responsibility over confrontation.
