The Federal Government has asked Nigerians to be vigilant to mitigate against attacks on schools and students’ abduction.
This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, in an interview with Punch on Monday, noting that the government cannot secure all schools across the country.
Nwajiuba said the government has instructed schools to report any security threat to the nearest security agency.
“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,” he said while responding to a question on efforts of government to secure schools from attacks.
He added that almost all schools in the country were fenced.
Nwajiuba said, “Almost all the schools in Nigeria, whether private or owned by the Federal Government, are mostly all fenced, except 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, is 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.”