The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) has urged security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the students abducted from a senior secondary school in Kebbi State, where gunmen killed a vice principal and kidnapped about 25 learners.

In a statement issued by its National President, Comrade Sola Adigun, the union commended the swift launch of the rescue operation but insisted that authorities must act with greater urgency and coordination to ensure a successful outcome. Adigun said the attack highlights the growing vulnerability of schools across the country and the urgent need to bolster existing security structures.

He expressed concern over the performance of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Special School Protection Squad, a unit created to safeguard learning environments. Adigun questioned how such an attack could occur despite the squad’s presence, noting that the incident raises serious doubts about its effectiveness. “If a vice principal can be killed and students abducted in broad daylight, then we must ask: what exactly are the NSCDC school guards doing?” he said.

The ASUSS president warned that repeated attacks on schools continue to deter enrolment, traumatise students, weaken teacher morale, and threaten the nation’s long-term educational aspirations. He stressed that teachers and learners have become easy targets—a situation that must be urgently addressed to restore confidence in the education system.

Adigun called on the Federal Government and the Kebbi State Government to reassess the current school security framework, deploy better-trained personnel, and provide essential early-warning and rapid-response facilities, especially in high-risk areas. He said government must show clear commitment to ensuring that no child’s pursuit of education becomes a danger.

He also extended condolences to the family of the slain vice principal and expressed solidarity with the affected school community. ASUSS, he said, expects sustained pressure on the abductors until every student is safely returned. “The entire country is watching,” he noted. “We urge security agencies to intensify the operation, seal all escape routes, and bring these children back home without delay.”