5th June, 2014
A Coordinator of Unity Colleges, Mr. Rufus Famuwagun, on Tuesday urged strengthening of security in public and private schools to avoid further abduction of students.
Famuwagun, the Zonal Coordinator, Unity Colleges, South-West, made the call in an interview in Lagos.
He said that abduction of students was an agonising experience Nigeria should not have again.
He was reacting to the continued abduction of more than 200 students of the Government Girls’ College, Chibok, Borno.
The schoolgirls were kidnapped on April 14 by the Boko Haram sect.
The coordinator said that intensified security would stop kidnappers from tampering with tomorrow’s leaders.
He regretted that attacks on schools in the North-East Geopolitical Zone were threatening achievement of girl-child education and education for all.
Famuwagun noted that some parents had withdrawn their children from schools far from their residences due to security challenges.
He said that the attacks were also threatening national development, and must be stopped.
“I want to call on unity colleges and other schools in the country to prioritise security of lives and property.
“This way, we shall be instilling confidence in parents to allow their wards to attend schools far from home.
“We cannot leave everything at the door step of the Federal Government, as security is everybody’s business,” he said.
The Principal, King’s College, Lagos, Mr. Oladele Olapeju, urged Nigerians to rise up as a people to tackle insurgency instead of blaming the government.
“The situation in the country is pitiable, and we must rise and fight back to salvage the country.
“We should blame ourselves for not making enough efforts in terms of keeping watch and being at alert; we should not blame President Jonathan.
“African people keep eyes on matters of security but in today’s age and time, there is an attitudinal change that makes us not to bother.
“We should not look at security challenges as Hollywood movies until we get caught in the act; dead men do not tell stories,” Olapeju said.
Insurgents had in 2013 attacked a college of agriculture in Yobe, killing no fewer than 42 students while they were asleep in their hostels.
Another attack on a college of education, Waka in Borno recorded eight deaths, including that of a lecturer.
A total of 29 boys were killed in February at the Federal Government College Buni Yadi in Yobe.