The chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has assured the commitment of Nigerian military to the provision of secure and better environment for children to acquire education without fear of criminal attacks.
General Musa gave the assurance while opening a two-day workshop on safe schools held at the headquarters of 1 Division, Nigerian Army in Kaduna.
The workshop was themed “Providing a Secure and Safe Learning Environment for The Advancement of National Development”.
He said the Armed Forces of Nigeria would continue to do all within their strength to ensure the protection of children in collaboration with other security agencies.
The CDS, who was represented by Maj.-Gen. Emeka Onumajuru, the chief of Defence Training and Operations Defence Headquarters, said, in line with the federal government’s policy on safe, secure and violent-free schools, the need for the workshop became imperative given the incessant attacks on schools across Nigeria since 2014.
He disclosed that the workshop aimed to sensitise troops on the rudiments of inter-agency collaboration to protect schools against attacks.
The CDS further disclosed that it was an avenue to provide key enablers required to reach the locations of some of the schools, such as motorcycles and communication gadgets, to respond rapidly when the need arises.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria are for Nigerians and will continue to do all within their strength to ensure the protection of our children, working with all the security agencies,” Musa said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division Nigerian Army Maj.-Gen. Mayirenso Saraso called for collaborative efforts among all the stakeholders to secure schools across the state.
Saraso appealed to the participants to make the best use of the workshop to ensure that the objective of the Safe Schools initiative was achieved.
In his remarks, the overseeing Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, Mr Samuel Aruwan, said that between July 2021 and March 2024, Kaduna State has had its fair share of abductions of children from various schools.
The workshop drew participants from the Police, NSCDC, armed forces members, religious leaders and traditional leaders.
