Stakeholders Demand Safer School As 78 Borno School Children Remain In Captivity

Borno State Commissioner for Education, Innovation, Science and Technology, Engr Lawan Abba Wakilbe has decried the continued captive of the 78 pupils and students abducted by Boko Haram/ ISWAP terrorists in Mussa and Lassa communities between May and June this year in their schools in Askira-Uba local government area.

Wakilbe, who spoke yesterday during an education Summit organised by the State government in collaboration with Malala Fund, Unique Care and Support Foundation ( CASFOD) , Centre for Advocacy, Transparency and Accountability Initiative ( CATAI) and other partners with the theme: “Strengthening Safe, Inclusive, and Gender-Responsive Education: Building Back Better,” noted that no responsible government would not be worried if its citizens are taken into captivity.

He further noted that the abducted Mussa and Lassa pupils and students are innocent school children who were picked from their schools, adding that there is no day that passes without him thinking of the girls and those infants in the hands of Boko Haram terrorists.

Wakilbe however said that government and security agencies have given assurance that the abducted school children will be rescued and be reunited with their families.

Wakilbe, who said the summit has been fulfilling, added that the abduction of school children is an emerging issue, recalling that after the Chibok Schoolgirls abduction in 2014, there has been a lot of training and investments in safe school initiative .

“We thought we have gone beyond this untill almost 60 days ago 42 school children were abducted in Mussa and three weeks to one month ago, another 36 school children and one teacher were abducted in Lassa.

“So it is good to now look at school safety declaration document that was domiciled since 2021 and call for training on safe school initiative and look for gaps in the safe school system so that schools become safe ahead of the 2026/2027 academic session,” the commissioner said.

Also speaking, the Executive Director CASFOD, Benjamin John, said it has become a concern following the resurfacing of school children abduction after the Chibok Schoolgirls abduction in 2014.

He regretted that the recent abductions occurred at a time when number of out- of- school children is alarming, and nationally there is a lot drive to ensure that children are brought back to school.

The Executive Director CASFOD however noted that Borno State government, through the Commissioner of Education has pledged to ensure that schools become safe and he has not hidden the fact that government cannot do it alone.

“He has also invited partners to also be part of this drive to ensure that schools become safe. The Education Summit is a call for reflection to all education practitioners, school authorities and every individual to ensure that schools are safe.

“Partners including CASFOD are working hard to ensure that schools are safe. Parents should support their children to ensure that they are in school,” he said.

The Executive Director CATAI, Abubakar Sadiq Muazu noted that this is first of its kind of Summit that stakeholders deliberated on safety of school children, saying that most importantly they have deliberated a lot to see that they profer and provide recommendations to both federal and State governments to see how children should be kept safe in schools.

Sadiq who added that the present education curriculum could not match the realities of the 21st century, said they are appealing to the federal government and National Education Council to see that the curriculum is reviewed.

He said most importantly within schools, they are looking at how best they can have local security agencies to ensure the safety of children in schools.

The Executive Secretary Borno Education Trust Fund , Alhaji Grema Terab, called for deployment of members of Civilian Joint Tasks Force ( CJTF ) to all schools in the State to ensure adequate safety of school children.

Terab added that stakeholders during the Summit suggested that early warning should be provided in schools so that before any abduction or attack, students and staff would have smooth exit before the arrival of the terrorists.