Just months after 276 girls were kidnapped from Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State on April14 2014,
the Federal Government partnered with stakeholders to set up a Safe School Initiative as a quick response to the crisis...
Of note is that the Federal Government launched the Safe Schools Fund as an initial responsewith a contribution of $10million and another $10million pledge from the private sector, with the Ministry of Finance managing the fund. Before April 2014 incident, attacks on schools and kidnap of pupils or students were not common in Nigeria. However, since the kidnap of 276 schoolgirls in Chibok, pupils and students have becomeregulartarget for abduction. Shockingly, it seemed governments at all levels are tolerating the bandits.
He also added that there is a lack of adequate security infrastructure and resources in many schools, making them vulnerable targets, additionally, corruption and ineffective governance have hindered the implementation of comprehensive security measures and the prosecution of perpetrators, perpetuating a cycle of violence and impunity.
Adeduntan said that the argument holds merit, because while the Safe School Initiative aimed to enhance security measures specifically within educational institutions, it is essential to recognise that schools exist within the broader context of society. “Therefore, while the Safe School Initiative is valuable, efforts to create a safe society must encompass broader initiatives that address the root causes of insecurity and promote sustainable development and peacebuilding,” Adeduntan stated.
Adeduntan said the notion that security agencies might be collaborating or complicit in the attacks on schools is deeply troubling and raises significant concerns about the integrity and effectiveness of security operations in Nigeria. For the public policy expert, Adedutan, “the safety and security of schools and students should be paramount, and all stakeholders, including government authorities, security agencies, civil society organisations, and communities, must work together to enhance security measures, strengthen intelligence gathering, and ensure the protection of educational institutions.
He said that 10 years after the Safe School Initiative, the attacks are still on maybe because the schools are porous and no effective security architecture within the school premises. “It is a pity that we have military formations everywhere especially the armies, we see them block roads but it is surprising to say that these people don’t go by the major road.
To Colonel Hassan Stan-Lebo, the country is still grappling with incessant attacks on schools and kidnap of pupils and students because the nation has failed to implement the Gordon Banks Safe School Protocol handed over to Nigeria years back. On the argument that the initiative should have been a safe society which should have taken care of the schools, Stan-Labo maintained that nothing is wrong with the initiative, as it came at a time the country badly needed solutions to the state of insecurity.
“A good number of these countries engage what is called the Geotagging technique, which could be applied in tracking down communication by terrorists and kidnappers. Each time a kidnapper uses a phone to communicate, the device connects to nearby cell towers, which leaves a digital footprint. Modern smartphones, often used by kidnappers, have built-in GPS capabilities, which further enhances the accuracy of location tracking. Geotagging utilizes this data to pinpoint the location of the phone.
Afatakpa, who is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Nottingham, said safe society should be the focus and not safe school. He added that focusing solely on schools and leaving the larger society unattended to is majoring on the minor and minoring the major.
The Guardian gathered that while military operations are essential for addressing security threats, their effectiveness in protecting schools and students from banditry and kidnappings is questionable given the continued occurrence of such attacks. “Military operations in Nigeria to stem insecurity face several challenges, including inadequate coordination among security agencies, the complexity of insurgency tactics, allegations of corruption and complicity within the security forces, resource constraints, and concerns about human rights abuses.”
The students kidnapped from their schools in Kuriga, Kaduna state, have been released by their abductors, the state governor said on Sunday morning. The students were "unharmed," Governor Uba Sani said in a statement. "Our special appreciation goes to our dear President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for prioritising the safety and security of Nigerians and particularly… the Federal Government partnered with stakeholders to set up a Safe School Initiative as a quick response to the crisis...
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