A demand has been made by members of the House of Representatives for increased security presence in schools nationwide in response to the escalating security challenges in the country.
This call was made following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance brought up during the plenary session on Wednesday by Billy Osawaru.
In his presentation, Osawaru expressed concerns over the deteriorating safety of students within school premises, particularly in regions like Borno, Nasarawa, Niger, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna.
He highlighted the recent abduction incident that occurred on Thursday, the 7th of March 2024, where 287 schoolchildren were kidnapped from a government-owned school in Kuriga town, Kaduna State.
Osawaru also referenced the abduction of 24 students from the Federal University of Gusau in Zamfara State by bandits on Friday, the 22nd of September 2023.
Warning about the potential closure of schools if attacks by terrorist groups and bandits persist, the lawmaker emphasized the inadequate security measures in place, with many schools lacking proper police protection and facing severe losses during attacks due to insufficient manpower and equipment.
Osawaru cautioned that unless decisive action is taken to address the escalating insecurity, schools could face complete shutdown due to the activities of these criminal elements.
He also highlighted the tragic toll of attacks on schools, citing over 180 schoolchildren killed and nearly 90 injured in 70 incidents between April 2014 and December 2022, along with the abduction of school staff and destruction of school buildings during that period.
Pointing out that the majority of attacks occurred in the North-West and North-Central regions of Nigeria, Osawaru acknowledged the efforts made by security agencies in reuniting the kidnapped schoolchildren from the March 2024 incident with their families.
However, he expressed concerns about the lasting impact of such traumatic experiences on the victims, potentially instilling a fear of returning to school.
Osawaru underscored the persistent threat posed by criminal elements to the lives of students, staff, and the broader school community, despite the ongoing efforts of Nigerian security agencies.