The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has directed Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts of tertiary institutions to expel any student found guilty of kidnapping or related criminal activities after due investigation. He also instructed institutions to strengthen campus security and improve intelligence gathering to prevent criminal activities.
Minister orders tighter campus security
The directive appeared in a statement issued by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, after a meeting with the Governing Council and Management of the Federal University of Lafia in Nasarawa State. According to the statement, Alausa urged heads of tertiary institutions to work closely with the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to improve surveillance and protect students.
‘Criminals have no place in schools’
Speaking during the meeting, the minister said Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education remain largely safe despite recent security incidents involving students outside campuses. He, however, stressed that institutions must act decisively against students involved in criminal activities.
“If you tolerate bad behaviour for too long, it becomes a culture. Any student found culpable, after due investigation, of planning or participating in the kidnapping of fellow students has no place in our tertiary institutions. Such individuals must be dismissed.”
Safe Schools Initiative gets boost
Alausa disclosed that he recently met with the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), to strengthen the Safe Schools Initiative and improve security for learners across the country. He also reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s position that government institutions should neither negotiate with kidnappers nor pay ransom because such actions encourage criminal groups.
The minister further announced that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) would support security improvement projects under its 2027 intervention programme. According to him, the projects will include perimeter fencing and other critical security infrastructure across tertiary institutions.
Federal University of Lafia raises concerns
Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia, Lola Fibisola Akande, highlighted challenges affecting the institution, including inadequate student accommodation, electricity supply at the university’s second campus and security concerns.
She also disclosed that authorities suspect some students of having links to kidnapping activities outside the campus. Akande added that the university strongly opposes the payment of ransom to secure the release of kidnapping victims.
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