Following the resurgence of terrorists’ attack in some parts of the North, the Ministry of Education Friday, issued a release shutting down 47 Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs) with immediate effect.
The letter was signed by Binta Abdulkadir, director, Senior Secondary Education, on behalf of the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa.
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The directive, issued in a circular released, cited “recent security challenges in some parts of the country and the need to prevent any security breaches.”
Some states like Katsina, Niger, Plateau, Kwara, Benue, did same apart from Kebbi and Sokoto states that insisted on schools finishing the term, amid security assurance.
The measure, though taken to avoid further incidences, has however, attracted condemnation from some observers who said that the government was acting cowardly by shutting the schools.
A Cybersecurity expert, who gave his name simply as Don, said that when it had come to a point that non-state actors are seemingly dictating the pace for the country, the government is therefore, being taken for granted.
“In every country, the government is all-powerful. Ideally, it should have the biggest guns to out-shoot any non-state actor. It should possess the latest technology to combat all manner of attacks. But when you now see a government that behaves as if it is being out-gunned by terrorists, there is danger. Nigeria must say no to this dangerous development,” Don said.
The school closure has also been labelled “a panic measure,” which gives and indication that the state is under siege.
A former attorney general of a state expressed frustration over the action of the shutting down of schools.
“One after the other, the states of North will announce and formalize what quietly been happening. ‘Non-Islamic education is forbidden’ and schools in Northern Nigeria have started shutting down. Isn’t this circular the very picture of confusion and lack of coordination, a massive strategic victory for BH (Boko Haram)?”
Some other analysts who spoke with BusinessDaySunday off record said that the closure of the schools was a ‘sign of more sinister things to come.”
Not time to lay down the guard?
A few months ago, Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser, praised some governors and security operatives in the northern states, whose efforts, he noted, have substantially boosted security in their respective states.
Ribadu specifically applauded Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna State, for restoring peace and making the state habitable again for the residents in the urban and especially rural areas, which were once the hotbed for banditry, kidnapping and terrorism activities.
“Your Excellency, Governor Uba Sani, the People’s Governor. Under your stewardship, Kaduna is transforming from an epicenter of violent attacks to a model of stability and peace,” Ribadu said during the commissioning of the Qatar Charity Sanabil Project (Phase 1) in Kaduna.
Other Nigerians, including Lazarus Ndu Ama and Niyi Folabi, conveners, Non-indigenes Association of Kaduna State, also praised Sani for his commitment to protecting lives and properties of citizens, while also commending the efforts of governors of Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Bauchi and Gombe states at protecting lives and properties of citizens in their states.
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The above points to some of the gains made from the fight against insecurity, despite some challenges, including a relative peace in Benue after President Bola Tinubu’s visit a few months ago. Also, in August, Nigeria’s Air Force said its airstrikes killed nearly 600 insurgents, among other feats by the military.
But that gain is under threat with the resurgence of abductions and killings is some states in the northern part of the country.
Troublesome times
While Nigerians thought that the gruesome Chibok school girls’ abduction experience will not happen again, the recent abduction of 26 schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, points a seeming no-end to the saga.
Just four days after, the now emboldened abductors, struck again at St Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in the Papiri community of Agwara Local Government Area, Niger State, and this time, abducting a record 215 students and 12 teachers.
Yet, the attack on Christ Apostolic Church worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State, added to the resurgence, amid putting more pressure on the Nigerian government, which is now under scrutiny from Donald Trump, president, United States of America, who has threatened military action over what he considered as persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
For many, the government has so far been more sensitive to the challenge then before with President Bola Tinubu postponing planned trips to South Africa and Angola for G20 and AU-EU summits due to the attacks.
Mr. President’s strong order to security agencies to do everything possible to rescue the abducted schoolgirls, bring them back home safely and hunt down the assailants is a welcome move.
As well, the visit of Kashim Shettima, vice president, to Kebbi State, to condole with the state government and families of the abducted children and President Tinubu’s ordering of Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence, to relocate to Kebbi State over the abduction, were all commendable.
But the parents of the victims and many concerned citizens differ as their interest is the safe return of their children, all the schoolgirls and prevention of further abductions.
While the trauma remains fresh for Mallam Usman, one affected parent in the Kebbi schoolgirls abduction, his priority is the safety of his daughter.
“I plead with the government and security agents to help us get our children out of the bush. This is the most horrible experience of my life, something I would never wish even on an enemy,” Usman decried.
Also, most of the distressed mothers in the Kebbi case, according media reports, are also asking to see the faces of their daughters again, with many visiting the school often, in search of information on their daughters whereabout, but to no avail, and some developing blood pressure already like the mother of Umu Kusua Bukalim, one of the abducted girls.
The parents of the abducted Niger State schoolgirls have also been praying for their safe release and hoping for miracle as they seem to have little faith in the efforts of the government to rescue their daughters.
“We are just here, praying and waiting for news,” a disheartened mother was heard saying.
John Hayab, a reverend and chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Northern states and Federal Capital Territory, also lent his voice to the call for the release of the girls, who he described as innocent and poor schoolgirls.
Painful nostalgia
Commenting on the resurgence, Hassan Kontagora, a corporate trainer and an education consultant, blamed the government and security operatives for allowing the terrorists to beat them to it this time, despite the arm power and number advantage.
“We were sleeping and the bandits struck and took our girls in Chibok, they took more girls at Jangebe, in Zamfara, they have been taking our daughters since then and all we get as parents is that the government is working for their release,” Kontagora, a father of five, whose children are in Abuja for safety said.
“No, the government should rather work to ensure their safety by apprehending the abductors, try and jail them, including their collaborators, as they case may be.
“The same apologies the government offered to the parents of Chibok girls is still what is being said to the parents of the victims of the Kebbi and Niger abducted school girls.”
Deepening concern
Bem Hembafan, a retired senior security officer, noted that the resurgence requires change of strategy and tactics as the current ones are no longer effective.
According to him, the growing insecurity is a big challenge, but can still be tackled with the right approaches, sincerity of purpose and consequences for the actions and inactions of those delegated to handle responsibilities.
“Yes, Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence, has relocated to Kebbi State over the abduction. But we have seen such relocations in the past to Bornu, Plateau and Sokoto by our service chiefs. An effective strategy and anticipated result are what matter most and not necessarily the visits.
“After Mr. President’s visit to Benue, attacks are still ongoing. So, it is not about giving orders, but carrying out those orders to the letter and also ensuring consequences for failure to do so. Human lives are involved here, nobody will be happy that his or her daughter is abducted, even if you can pay any amount for her release, what about the trauma, impact on her psych, and life after the gruesome experience. Some can hardly recover from the rape and other forms of enslavement in the hands of their abductors,” he noted.
For Bulus Pam, a lawyer and human activist, the government has failed to learn from past experience and sit-up.
“Why is it that the abductors will always succeed in their strategies and nefarious activities and our security agencies will always be taken by surprise? He asked.
He imagined why over 200 students and 12 teachers would be abducted in Niger State and moved on Nigerian roads without the security spotting them out, while innocent drivers are witch-hunted on the roads.
“We have had so many security operations, including joint ones, launched and relaunched across the country, like the Operation Fasan Yama. But assessing their effectiveness gives one migraine, considering the high hope we placed on them. I see sabotage to say the least,” Pam said.
Reacting to the claim by the governor of Kebbi State that Maga, where the schoolgirls were abducted is not a Christian enclave, he argued that human lives are being wasted in the attacks and abductions, hence the government should work to safeguard the lives of the citizens, which it swore an oath to protect, no matter their religion, ethnicity or social status.
“The federal government cannot say anything now but just action because we have had this insecurity thing for a long time now, huge funds spent and still being spent, noise of achievements made in the fight against insecurity, yet little result.
“Are you saying that the non-state actors are stronger than the government? Then, where is the legitimacy of the government? It is time to prove it and save innocent Nigerians from untimely death and the country from embarrassment at the global community,” the Vom Plateau State-born lawyer said.
Sabotage fingered
Also sensing sabotage, Nasir Idris, governor of Kebbi State, fumed over the withdrawal of military troops from the Maga school shortly before the gunmen attack, as the soldiers reportedly left the school around 3am, while the attackers struck less than 45 minutes later.
Although the governor called for a full military investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, Pam noted that such points to the need for consequences for the actions and inactions of those in sensitive security positions.
“It means that of the military troop did not leave by 3am that day, those schoolgirls would have been safe, and pursing their future with delight. But nobody has been punished for that costly mistake,” he decried.
What has compounded the woes of the abductions, according to Simisola Onabanjo, a chartered accountant and senior banker, is the closure of 41 unity schools by the federal government over rising cases of abduction.
Onabanjo, an old girl of the FGGC Zaria, said that the decision would prevent further abductions, but in the long run will impact negatively on the girl-child education as many of the students may not return back when the schools will be reopened as some may have been married out by their parents, some settle for apprenticeship, others casual work, all boosting the school-drop-out rate.
Also, Kebbi parents, especially mothers are not giving up education of their girl-child despite the abductions.
Offering solutions, Hembafan insisted that the security agencies should change tactics that will enable them to take the war back to the bandits and terrorists.
“We cannot win this battle without sincerity of purpose because many are pulling from different ends and singing different songs. It is obvious there are bad eggs among our security personnel who cherish self-interest to human lives and national unity, but we can fish them out, make public show of them, prosecute and punish them accordingly to serve as strong warning for others,” he suggested.
But Sam Onikoyi, a Nigerian academic in Brussels, urged the federal government to seek foreign help as it is obvious it cannot fight off the bad elements.
“With what President Trump has said, America will be more than ready to help flush out these bad elements, even free of charge. If not, seek help elsewhere to restore security because the country is being less regarded in the international community for its inability to fight insecurity. Let’s seek help now that some countries are showing interest in assisting us,” he said.
He argued that the visa denials and other poor treatments being meted out on some Nigerian citizens abroad are because of the bad situations at home.
“Most countries know that many Nigerians are running away from their country because of the insecurity and economic situation and they have right to limit the numbers to their respective countries. But if the home front is peaceful and booming, many will stay back in the country.
“If this admiration can give us security, that will be its best achievement because the previous ones couldn’t do so,” he said.
Call for action
In his opinion, Pam, like Hambafan, called for change of tactics and sincerity in the fight against insecurity.
“We have seen many service chiefs come and go, huge funds budgeted for superior arms and ammunition, we have seen headquarters of the military being frequently relocated to insecurity hotbeds, and countless of soldiers dies in operations. I think, that is enough. Let the government and security agencies meet and fashion out what works and what doesn’t. Let’s remove the weak links, let’s appeal to our conscience, it is not all about money, because innocent people die every day in the hands of bandits and terrorists.
“Enough is enough. Let the government affirm its legitimacy and save Nigeria from the clutch of these bad elements. Playing politics with it will not help, we need to take the necessary action now,” Pam concluded.
