Stakeholders advocate creation of special joint force to secure schools

Stakeholders in the education sector have canvassed improved security presence in schools through the creation of a special joint force, comprising police, civil defence corps and army.

They urged the Federal Government to urgently withdraw security personnel attached to politicians and redeploy them to schools where they could be more useful.

They lamented that the increased cases of abduction of students from the northern region were aimed at discouraging western education.

The proprietor of Holy Vine International Academy in Ado Ekiti, Mr Ibitoye Adeleye said with the spate of abduction in schools, Federal Government should declare a security emergency in schools across the country.

Adeleye said the government should be proactive and not reactionary in matters concerning the security of school children.

“I suggest that in the short run, the government should withdraw security personnel attached to politicians and redeploy them to schools. In the long run, the government should create a special joint security team comprising the police, army and civil defence corps to guard schools.

Mr Oguntuase Charles, a parent who resides in Oke Ureje in Ado Ekiti described the abduction of students as part of plans to rubbish western education.

Charles said since Boko Haram terrorists have declared western education as a sin, their attack on schools was aimed at further strengthening their stance.

“The leadership of the country must do more than condemning the acts. It is time to provide security for these children. The President should act before bandits scare parents from sending their wards to school.

Another parent, Mr Ogundana Rotimi, a businessman, said the government’s inaction on insecurity was fueling further abduction.

He urged the government to take a census of schools in the country to determine the number of security personnel needed to guard them.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN