Federal Ministry of Education has asked Principals of all Federal Government Colleges (FGCs), otherwise known as Unity Schools, to beef-up security to forestall any form of breakdown of law and order.
It suggested to the principals to liaise with the police and security agencies in their locations, as well as in-house school security outfit and adopt other measures to protect their schools.
The suggestion was, perhaps, in response to the recent report of security breach at the Federal Government College (FGC), Kwali, Abuja, at the weekend, which has been directed to close down and students vacated immediately.
Kidnappers, who invaded Sheda village in Kwali area council, Abuja on Sunday amid sporadic shooting, released Mrs Janet Odoma Ojarume following a firm instruction that she should go and source money for the release of her husband, Sunday Odoma Ojarume.
Narrating her experience to journalists, yesterday, Janet said the kidnappers jumped over the fence and whisked her and her husband away.
On how she regained freedom, she said: “While they were moving us out of the community, the leader of the kidnappers ordered that they should allow me to go back home so that I will go and source for ransom.”
She explained that the kidnappers had access to their house after she stood up from bed out of fear to open the door, adding that at that point, the kidnappers forced the door opened.
She said the kidnappers could not enter the room where her two children were sleeping. “That was what saved my children.” As at press time, she said contact has not been established with the kidnappers.
Following the tension, the sporadic gunshots set off among students of the Federal Government College (FCG) Kwali, who were in their hostels, the college has been shutdown and the students evacuated by their parents.
Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, in a statement by the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Goong, yesterday, confirmed earlier reports that indicated that there was a security threat in FGCs in Abuja.
“There was security breach on Sheda and Lambata villages, suburbs of Kwali Area Council, which also threatened FGC Kwali. It was the timely intervention of security agencies that saved the situation, hence the decision for immediate closure of one the school until calm is restored.”
He, however, directed that arrangements should be made for final year students to conclude their National Examination Council (NECO) examinations.