The National Association of Nigerian Colleges of Education Students (NANCES) has appealed to the various levels of government to heighten security arrangements in schools nationwide to checkmate incessant invasion and kidnapping.
The National President of the association, Mr Mahmud Abubakar made the appeal in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday, saying repeated news of school invasion and abduction by gunmen was becoming worrisome.
Abubakar stressed that the trauma resulting from such students’ invasion both at federal, state and private institutions, no longer allowed for concentration in studies.
He said that it was high time governments utilised every resource at their disposal to tackle the menace headlong.
He said a situation whereby such abducted students were also killed with or without ransom also portends grievous danger, as it had the potency of dissuading those interested in going to school from doing so.
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“The situation is now pathetic. We can’t explain how school children suddenly became the target of the hoodlums, kidnappers and bandits.
“These slain children are human beings too and innocently died painfully for doing nothing wrong. Is it a crime to embrace education?
“Imagine the trauma these innocent children are continuously subjected to by ambushing them at gunpoint by gunmen at such tender ages.
“It must be noted that the activities of kidnappers, abductors and bandits may cripple education in the country if no corresponding actions are taken very soon,” he said.
The association commended the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu on his relentless efforts to take education to the next level.
He however expressed regret that activities of criminals might render all his positive innovations counterproductive if state of emergency was not declared on security in the nation without delay. (NAN)