Group Seeks Return To Safe Schools Initiative Of 2014

A group of security analysts and experts under the umbrella of Keep Nigeria Safe Initiative (KNSI) has expressed confidence in the minister of state for defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle’s ability to rescue the victims of the recent kidnap in Kebbi State.

The group also urged the federal government, to as a matter of urgent national security, revert to the Safe Schools Initiative (SSI) operational in 2014 under former the president Goodluck Jonathan administration.
The SSI which was launched in May 2014, one month after over 200 school girls were abducted in Chibok, Borno State, was a federal government programme with support from development partners to safeguard the students and teachers in high targets areas.

A press statement by the group yesterday, hailed President Bola Tinubu for ordering Matawalle to relocate to Kebbi State immediately until the school girls were rescued.

The Keep Nigeria Safe Initiative in a statement signed by the national convener, Comrade Isaac Onoje, said the mandate given to Matawalle was well thought out and to the best interest of the nation.

The security experts recalled several events in Zamfara when Dr. Matawalle was holding sway as governor and how he managed all the situations by rescuing thousands of kidnapped victims at different times, without paying ransom.

KNSI posited that, the expertise of Matawalle in handling mass kidnapping and other security measures in curtailing the surge of the bandits, greatly helped in reducing insecurity and terrorism under his regime as Governor of Zamfara State.

The group said, under the SSI initiative, some students were relocated from Borno, Yobe and other states to the nearby states considered safe for them. The program was also used to generate funds for perimeter fencing and installation of security gadgets for the safety of school community.