PDP faults school shutdowns amid kidnappings, says policy aids terrorists’ agenda

PDP faults school shutdowns amid kidnappings, says policy aids terrorists’ agenda

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the Federal Government against shutting down schools in response to rising cases of kidnappings, warning that such a move would play into the hands of terrorists targeting educational institutions.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, PDP National Publicity Secretary Tanimu Turaki and factional party leader Ini Ememobong argued that school closures are not a sustainable security solution. They insisted that the government must prioritise long-term strategies rather than temporary measures that heighten fear in already vulnerable communities.

Ememobong said shutting down schools would inadvertently advance the objectives of terrorists, stressing the need to fully implement the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools, with strong community intelligence and rapid-response systems capable of preventing attacks before they escalate.

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The PDP leaders warned that continued insecurity around schools could worsen educational decline, particularly in Northern Nigeria, and advised the government to work with both local and international partners to strengthen the fight against terrorism. They also expressed willingness to support the administration if invited.

However, the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL) condemned the PDP’s stance, accusing the opposition of politicising a sensitive national security issue. In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Nnana Igbokwe, the forum said turning school abductions into political attacks is insensitive to citizens already traumatised by repeated incidents.

The NFFL urged political actors to offer constructive solutions rather than comments that may heighten tension, calling on the PDP to show restraint and avoid statements that “toy with the emotions of Nigerians.”

PDP faults school shutdowns amid kidnappings, says policy aids terrorists’ agenda