They Went to School Seeking a Future. Some Never Came Home

A day after NANS observed Black Tuesday, the conversation around student safety remains far from over

They left home to pursue an education. For some families, the journey ended in tragedy.

By Victor Olubiye

For most Nigerian parents, the day a child gains admission into a tertiary institution is a moment of pride. It is seen as the beginning of a journey toward a better future.

But for some families, that journey has ended in tragedy.

That painful reality was at the heart of the National Association of Nigerian Students' (NANS) declaration of July 28, 2026, as Black Tuesday—a day set aside to remember students whose lives were cut short by violence, insecurity, criminal attacks and incidents of jungle justice across the country.

In a statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer of NANS, Comrade Obidah David, the student body said the initiative was intended not only to honour fallen students but also to draw attention to what many now describe as a growing threat to student safety.

The association urged governments at all levels, security agencies, school managements and host communities to take stronger steps to protect students, warning that the loss of young lives should never become a routine headline.

For many students and parents, the message struck a nerve.

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A Death That Sparked Fresh Outrage

The declaration came against the backdrop of renewed anger over the killing of Miss Ahmed Sekinat, an HND II Marketing student of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, Ogun State.

In a press statement, NANS Southwest Zone D condemned the incident, describing it as another painful reminder of the dangers many students face beyond the classroom.

The statement, signed by the Southwest Coordinator, Comrade Adeyemo Josiah, the Public Relations Officer, Comrade Olugbemi Timothy, and the General Secretary, Comrade Ojetola Babatunde, said the attack occurred in a student residential area in Eruku, Itori.

According to the student leaders, gunmen invaded the area during a robbery operation. Sekinat lost her life, while another student reportedly sustained gunshot injuries. Several others were said to have been wounded during the attack.

The news spread quickly across student communities.

For those who knew her, the loss was difficult to comprehend. Friends reportedly spoke of a young woman who was nearing the completion of her programme and looking forward to life after graduation. Instead, her family found themselves preparing for a burial.

The incident triggered protests, with students demanding improved security around off-campus hostels and student settlements.

Yet the demonstrations reflected something larger than grief over one death.

Many students saw in Sekinat's story a pattern they had encountered before.

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A Disturbing Pattern

Across different parts of the country, reports involving students as victims of kidnapping, armed robbery, communal violence and mob attacks have surfaced repeatedly in recent years.

While the circumstances often differ, the outcome remains the same: another family mourning a child sent to school in pursuit of an education.

In a separate statement supporting the Black Tuesday initiative, Comrade Oladeji Israel Victor, Director of Strategic Engagement in the Office of the NANS Secretary-General, warned that student security can no longer be treated as a secondary concern.

He also raised concerns over incidents of jungle justice, noting that mob actions often unfold before investigations can establish the facts.

His concerns mirror a wider national challenge.

In several communities across Nigeria, accusations and rumours have at times escalated into violence within hours. Once a crowd takes control, the opportunity for due process often disappears, leaving little room for evidence, verification or justice.

For students studying far from home, particularly those living off campus, such realities contribute to an atmosphere of uncertainty that extends beyond academic life.

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The Dreams Left Behind

Every student death leaves behind statistics, police reports and public statements.

What often goes unnoticed are the futures that vanish alongside those lives.

Behind every name is a story interrupted.

A final-year student preparing for graduation.

A young entrepreneur working on a business idea.

A future teacher, engineer, journalist or healthcare professional whose ambitions will never be realised.

For families, the loss goes beyond the emotional pain of bereavement. Years of sacrifice, hope and expectation suddenly come to an end.

In a country where many parents invest heavily in education despite economic hardship, the death of a child at school can feel particularly devastating.

The consequences ripple outward. Classmates lose friends. Communities lose potential contributors. The nation loses young people whose skills and talents might have shaped its future.

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Living With Fear

Conversations about safety have become a familiar part of student life.

For many undergraduates, choosing accommodation is no longer only about affordability or proximity to campus. Security has become a deciding factor.

Students discuss dangerous routes, avoid certain areas after dark and share warnings about criminal activities through social media groups and campus networks.

Parents, too, have adapted.

Phone calls that once focused on lectures and examinations now frequently begin with a different question: "Are you safe?"

The fact that such concerns have become commonplace speaks volumes about the anxieties surrounding student welfare in many parts of the country.

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Beyond a Symbolic Gesture

Whether Black Tuesday evolves into a sustained campaign or remains largely symbolic will depend on what follows the declarations and statements.

For now, student leaders insist that the objective is simple: to ensure that the deaths of students are neither forgotten nor dismissed as unfortunate but inevitable events.

The challenge they have raised is one that extends beyond campuses.

It is a question about the value placed on young lives and the responsibility of institutions to protect them.

Every year, thousands of Nigerian students leave home carrying the expectations of their families and dreams of a better future. They should not have to navigate the fear of violence simply because they chose to pursue an education.

That is the concern driving the conversation around Black Tuesday.

At its core, it is not merely a campaign of remembrance. It is a demand for a future in which going to school does not become a risk, and where no family receives the news that the child they sent to learn will never return home.