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Recently, state governments, security agencies as well as ministries, departments and agencies reportedly decided to join forces to tackle terrorism through the safe school initiative. The aim is to propel stakeholders to contribute to the plan to finance and create safe learning in Nigeria. In addition to making the schools safe for children, it is also to reduce the number of out-of-school children.
Safe school initiative was first launched on May 7, 2014 to promote safety of pupils, teachers and facilities in our schools. The initiative came on the heels of the abduction of 276 Chibok schoolgirls in Borno State by Boko Haram terrorists on April 14, 2014. While many of the girls were rescued, some of them are still in captivity.
The initiative was announced at the World Economic Forum in Abuja. A coalition of Nigerian business leaders in conjunction with the former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, and some others pledged $10 million then for the initiative. The Federal Government later made an additional commitment of $10 million. Support also came from African Development Bank and such countries as Germany, Norway and the United Kingdom. Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states were the initial beneficiaries of the initiative. There were efforts to promote safe zones for education, make emergency plans, and provide communication devices and others. But currently, the programme appears moribund.
Tragically, what we have witnessed is escalation of attacks on schools, especially in the North. In February 2018, terrorists invaded Government Secondary School in Dapchi, Yobe State and abducted 110 schoolgirls. By the time the girls were released some months later, four of them had died. One of the victims, Leah Sharibu, is still held by terrorists. In December 2020, some daredevil terrorists invaded the Government Science Secondary School Kankara in Katsina State. They abducted over 300 students and took them to a forest in Zamfara State. They later released the students after six days in captivity. From Kankara, the terrorists moved to Government Science School at Kagara in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State where they abducted about 27 students and 15 workers of the school. A student lost his life in the process. Over 300 girls were also kidnapped last year from the Government Girls Secondary School in Jangebe, Zamfara State.
Apart from secondary schools, terrorists had also terrorised higher institutions. Last year, they attacked and kidnapped students from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Federal University of Forestry Mechanisation in Kaduna and Greenfield University, Kaduna. Five of the 23 kidnapped students of the Greenfield University were later killed by the bandits.
The incessant attacks in schools, especially in the North, have affected school enrolment, as many parents are afraid of sending their children to school. This has affected school enrolment in the northern region. At over 13 million, the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria is the highest in the world.
So far, no concrete effort has been made to stem the sad violation of the schools. Although the security agents are striving to curb such attacks, they should do more. Since the students are the future of the country, there is need to ensure safety in all Nigerian schools.
The Federal Government may consider rejigging the security system as one way of tackling the problem. There is need to devolve or decentralise our security because every crime is local. State and community policing will largely improve the nation’s overall security.
Intelligence unit of other security agencies should also be strengthened to enable them to detect and nip any crime in the bud. Citizens can also help in passing relevant information to the police because they can only act based on information available to them. Efforts should also be made to rescue kidnapped children who are still in captivity.
We commend the governors and the security agencies for the new steps to revive the safe school initiative. We encourage corporate bodies and donor agencies to key into it. Training on safety and security skills should be organised for teachers and students as well as emergency responders. Education remains the greatest asset a nation will bequeath to its children. Anything that will ensure quality education for our children in a safe environment ought to be encouraged.
