Kidnapping: Panic in Abuja boarding schools

TNT Newsline March 1, 2021 61

FCT Minister Muhammad Bello

 

From Fred Itua, Abuja

Residents and parents in the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have expressed fear over growing cases  of abductions in various schools across  Northern Nigeria, specifically in Niger, Zamfara and Katsina States.

FCT shares a boundary with Niger State, where boarding school students were kidnapped recently.

Parents whose children are in public boarding schools in the FCT, said unless something urgent is done, their wards maybe withdrawn, until adequate security is provided.

Though no abduction has been recorded in schools in the FCT, parents, however expressed fears that the poor infrastructure and porous security around some boarding schools in many parts of Abuja satellite towns, were alarming and call for serious concerns.

They specifically referred to Government Secondary school (GSS), Karshi; Federal Government College, Kwali; Federal Government College, Bwari, among others. They said they were worried that boarding schools built in isolated locations, and surrounded by mountains and forests, have no maximum perimeter fences.

Findings by Daily Sun, revealed that GSS Karshi has hundreds of students, both male and female, as boarders, but lacks a complete perimeter fence.

It was learnt that the contract for the perimeter fence was awarded since 2010, but only the outer part of it was completed, with a gate as a camouflage, while a vast part of the other side of the premises remains open and susceptible to attacks.

Mr. Jeffrey Akachukwu, one of the parents, lamented that the worst aspect of the worrisome situation, was the alleged occupation of part of the school land by Fulani herdsmen.

Akachukwu who was furious that both herdsmen and farmers were allowed by the school authority to use the school exit gate as a thoroughfare, also expressed fears that the porosity of the environment portends dangers.

According to him, “no excuse was reasonable enough to leave a boarding school without a well secured and watched perimeter fence. The excuse that the school’s perimeter fence project was stalled because someone encroached on the school’s land and is also claiming ownership was not tenable, as overriding public interest clause in Nigeria’s extant laws has taken care of that.”

He further asked “why are herdsmen allowed to be occupying parts of the school’s land? Are the management of the school and FCT Administration not seeing the mountainous forest that surround the school? Are they waiting until an evil day comes before appropriate actions are taken?”

Reacting to the development, a top management staff of FCT Education Secretariat who pleaded anonymity, said water tight arrangements have been worked out to beef up security around the boarding schools.

The source refused to disclose what the security arrangements entail, claiming that it was security issues that ought not to be divulged.

It was also confirmed by the source, that GSS Karshi has no complete fence, because the contractor encountered an obstacle on the way, when a private individual started claiming part of the school’s property.

“I cannot tell you what we are doing to secure our schools, it is a security issue, and we can’t make it public. As for GSS Karshi, we are making effort to complete the fence. The contractor had to stop work, when someone started claiming ownership of part of the school property.

“We have made our reports, but due to the bureaucracy in government, nothing has been done,” the source added.  (THE SUN)

61 thoughts on “Kidnapping: Panic in Abuja boarding schools”

  14. Greetings! I know this is kinda off topic however , I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest authoring a blog post or vice-versa? My website covers a lot of the same topics as yours and I think we could greatly benefit from each other. If you might be interested feel free to shoot me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Excellent blog by the way!|

    Reply

  19. Having read this I thought it was very enlightening. I appreciate you spending some time and effort to put this short article together. I once again find myself personally spending way too much time both reading and leaving comments. But so what, it was still worth it!|

    Reply

  20. It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d without a doubt donate to this brilliant blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will talk about this blog with my Facebook group. Chat soon!|

    Reply

  23. What i do not realize is in fact how you’re not really much more smartly-favored than you might be right now. You’re so intelligent. You recognize thus considerably with regards to this subject, produced me personally believe it from numerous numerous angles. Its like women and men don’t seem to be involved until it’s something to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs great. At all times deal with it up!|

    Reply

  25. Someone essentially lend a hand to make severely articles I’d state. That is the first time I frequented your website page and to this point? I amazed with the research you made to make this particular post incredible. Fantastic activity!|

    Reply

  33. Thanks a lot for sharing this with all people you really know what you are speaking about! Bookmarked. Please also seek advice from my website =). We will have a link change contract among us|

    Reply

  36. Howdy would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re working with? I’m going to start my own blog soon but I’m having a hard time selecting between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique. P.S My apologies for being off-topic but I had to ask!|

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News You may have missed

Wike Defends Crackdown on Beggars in Abuja: ”They Could Be Informants for Terrorists”

editor November 14, 2024 0

Governor Sanwo-Olu dinner for Chief Justice of Nigeria: What senior lawyers say

editor November 14, 2024 0

Reason for the Need of a Woman to Serve as the Next Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council

editor November 14, 2024 0

President Tinubu Appoints Daniel Bwala as Special Adviser, Names Three Directors-General

editor November 14, 2024 0

Former NCDMB E.S. Simbi Wabote says EFCC arrest, detention not true

editor November 14, 2024 0