The Federal Government of Nigeria has emphasized the need for Nigerians to be vigilant to end attacks on schools and the abduction of students noting that securing every school in Nigeria was impossible.
The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, made this assertion when he granted an interview to newsmen on Monday.
According to the minister, the government has directed schools to report any security threat to the nearest security agency but security agencies cannot be eveywhere.
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His words: ‘Eternal vigilance is the price for security. Every nation is always concerned about the consciousness of its people. The Federal Government cannot secure every house. Everybody needs to be vigilant. We have passed this message to all our schools so that anywhere they are, if there is any threat, they know the nearest security agency to contact.’
Nwajiuba also submitted that almost all schools in the country were fenced. ‘Almost all the schools in Nigeria, whether private or owned by the Federal Government, are mostly all fenced, except maybe some state schools.
‘As you may also be aware, even if you put up a fence, these people (bandits) have been known to come through gates.
‘So, perimeter fencing, by themselves, are not too effective. The security consciousness is the thing. If you hear where some of them are being held, you will know that it is a question of self-consciousness and communities informing officials on time.’
Finally he concluded by urging Nigerians to be vigilant and watchful as Government is doing everything it could to bring the ugly situation under control.
The spate of abudction of Students amongst students in Nigeria has increased in recent times which has forced many Governors in northern Nigeria to shut down schools.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK