FG plans school safety corps as 137 Kaduna pupils regain freedom

• Abodunrin emphasized the government’s commitment to zero tolerance on kidnapping for ransom
  

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The Federal Government plans to train newly recruited personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory as the School Safety Protection Squad to combat the abduction of schoolchildren.

Hammed Abodunrin, Commander of the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre of the NSCDC, revealed this during an interview. Additionally, the Defence Headquarters reported the successful rescue of 137 abducted pupils from LEA Primary School and Government Secondary School Kuriga in Kaduna’s Chikun Local Government Area, within Zamfara State.

Abodunrin emphasized the government’s commitment to zero tolerance on kidnapping for ransom, highlighting increased empowerment and recruitment of security personnel, along with procurement of equipment such as vehicles, motorcycles, and ICT facilities to address the challenges effectively.

“For instance, the centre will soon train some of the newly recruited personnel of NSCDC across the 36 states of the federation and FCT as the school safety protection squad. This team will be able to provide a quicker response when needed. They will work with the corps’ female squad nationwide as well as with the police and military resources where available and when required.

“These problems did not just come in a day. Solving them will follow processes but the most important thing is that actions are being taken fast.”

He also noted the corps and other paramilitary agencies had begun security education, adding that “the NSSRCC has commenced community engagement to build confidence and capacity of the members of the community.

The commander linked kidnapping to inadequate installation of closed-circuit televisions by schools and the poor use of technology.

“The most challenging issue is the lack of security culture. How many schools have identification cards for their students? How many members of staff care to know the number of pupils/students in their schools? Even when you ask some principals in the middle of the term, they will tell you they will check records.”