Nigeria's Safe Schools Initiative Fails Amid Persistent Abductions

Despite the Safe Schools Initiative launched after the 2014 Chibok abduction, Nigerian pupils and teachers remain vulnerable, with 39 pupils and six teachers recently rescued after 56 days in captivity in Oyo State. The initiative has faced funding mismanagement allegations and incomplete implementation, as over 42,000 schools lack perimeter fencing. Attacks persist, with at least 603 students abducted in mass attacks since March 2024, highlighting the need to address broader insecurity beyond school grounds.