Insecurity: Ekhomu unveils safe-school architecture plan

AMID a sharp rise in school attacks and mass abductions across Nigeria, security expert Dr. Victoria Ekhomu has released a new architectural blueprint aimed at strengthening protection for students and staff nationwide.

Dr. Ekhomu, President of the Associa tion of Security & Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON) and a senior Transworld Security executive, said the recent spate of kidnappings shows that “schools have become soft targets” and must be redesigned with security at the core. Her proposal follows a deadly week in November 2025, during which gunmen abducted 25 girls and their principal from a second ary school in Maga, Kebbi State, killed the Vice Principal, and seized dozens more students in Niger and Nasarawa States.

The crisis has forced the closure of 41 Unity Schools in the North. Dr. Ekhomu’s framework is based on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), a global strategy that uses building ty.

She emphasized controlled entry points, anti-climb perimeter fenc ing, clear visibility around school boundaries, and the relocation of classrooms away from perimeter walls. She also called for safe rooms in high-risk schools, improved visitor management through designated checkpoints, and measures to prevent vehicle intrusion such as bollards and one-way traffic flow. Her plan integrates CCTV mounts, alarm wiring, panic buttons, solar-powered backup systems, and clearly marked evacuation routes.

For boarding schools, she recommends zoned hostels, night lighting and perimeter alarm systems. She added that cost-effective solutions, such as durable local fencing, solar lamps and simple alarms, can help resource-poor schools adopt the model. Dr. Ekhomu urged education authorities to enforce national safety standards, insisting that “every child deserves a school where safety is built, not assumed.”