NSCDC Promises To Secure Schools

Commandant-general, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has assured that no stone will be left unturned in ensuring that schools in the nation are safe for learning.

He revealed that the decision to protect schools nationwide is borne from governments resolve to halt the deadly trend of incessant attacks unleashed on innocent pupils, students , teachers and school facilities lately.

He said, “Statistics shows that about 2, 295 teachers have so far been killed and 19,000 others displaced in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States between 2009 and 2018 alone , while an estimate of 1, 500 schools had been destroyed since 2014, with over 1,280 casualties being recorded  among teachers and students.”

Audi, who expressed their commitment at the launch of the “National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre” at their headquarters in Abuja, reiterated the uncompromised determination of the Corps to prioritise the safety of lives of Nigerian school children as well as their  school facilities as mandated by the federal government.

He disclosed that a special committee of the Corps has been working assiduously towards the production of a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the national project with a view to ensuring that its objective forms part of the cardinal responsibilities of the Corps.

The CG, who lamented the rate at which students and their teachers were being killed  said, “Bombs were brazenly detonated in school assemblies, destroying the lives of many students and teachers such as the case of the Yobe school attack while school buildings were burnt, hindering teaching and learning.”

Audi who further disclosed that intelligence has also revealed cases of dormitory raping, regretted that  several other attacks has remained unreported.

He said, “ Statistics however shows that about 2, 295 teachers have been killed and 19,000 others displaced in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States between 2009 and 2018 alone , while an estimate of 1, 500 schools had been destroyed since 2014, with over 1,280 casualties being recorded  among teachers and students.

“These violent attacks have a negative effect on teaching and learning and have thus,  reversed our sustainable national development efforts.”