The federal government has advised Nigerians to be at alert as it can’t guarantee their safety.
Education minister for state, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, gave the advise in an interview with Punch Newspapers.
“Eternal vigilance is the price of 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,” Nwajiuba said.
The junior minister was speaking on rising cases of abduction of school children in Northern Nigeria by bandits who exchange their victims for ransom used for procuring more deadly weapons afterwards.
He said although most schools in the country have perimeter fence, it is not effective like one who is conscious.
“Almost all the schools in Nigeria, whether private or owned by the Federal Government, are mostly all fenced, except maybe some state schools,” he said.
“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, are 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,” the minister added.
