No to school girls kidnap

Another vista was opened in the kidnap saga which the country has been contending with following a nocturnal abduction of three female students from their school recently. The school, Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary, Ikorodu, Lagos, was observing an evening preparatory reading session when armed men stormed one of the classrooms occupied by female students. They seized three of the girls in the ensuing commotion amidst gunshots. 

The incident, which was reminiscent of the Chibok school girls kidnap (except for the ransom demanded) has again brought to the front burner, the issue of security consciousness in our school system. There is an urgent need to overhaul the existing security architecture in all educational institutions, especially primary and secondary schools that appear vulnerable. Parents blamed the seminary school’s remote location for security lapses. Others blamed the low perimeter fence which gave the kidnappers easy access to the premises, and inadequate presence of security personnel in the hostel area. Academic excellence and creativity cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity. The young school boys and girls of today are the country’s future, and we cannot afford to toy with their wellbeing. 

The Safe School Initiative launched by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in the wake of the Chibok girls kidnap needs to be implemented. The funds so far raised by the United Nation’s-driven initiative, which the former British Prime Minister, Mr Gordon Brown introduced to Nigeria, must be committed to the project without further delay. Provision of a safe school environment should not be limited to Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, which were severely savaged by terrorist attacks. All hands must be on deck to make school environments not only conducive for learning, but equally guarantee students’ safety. We recommend a deliberate government policy that makes it, as far as possible, mandatory for primary and secondary schools to be located in residential areas and not in far flung, isolated places that are susceptible to attacks. Owners of existing schools in such locations must be compelled to enhance their internal security structures and link them to agencies charged with national security, such as the Police and Civil Defence. Minimum standards must be set and non-compliance should attract stiff sanctions. Additionally, more security consciousness should be impacted on staff members and students. Above all, we must commend the efforts of the Lagos State Government and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Rasheed Owoseni and his men, who worked tirelessly until the girls were safely rescued and the culprits apprehended. No effort should be spared to ensure that their accomplices who are still at large are brought to justice. 

This must be the last time such an ugly crime is allowed to happen anywhere in Nigeria.

Source: vanguard