NUT urges community policing to combat rising school attacks

As armed attacks on schools escalate across Nigeria, with an alarming increase in abductions of students and school workers for ransom, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) is urging the federal and state governments to adopt community policing as a solution to this pressing issue.

Mike Ene, Secretary-General of the NUT, made this appeal in an exclusive interview with the Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday. When asked to assess the security situation in schools during the first year of Bola Tinubu’s administration, Ene highlighted the growing trend of schools being targeted by bandits and kidnappers.

He emphasised that this situation is utterly unacceptable, as these criminals view educational institutions as easy sources of ransom money.

Ene stressed the urgent need for the government at all levels to prioritise the safety of students, teachers, and other citizens.

He called for a state of emergency to be declared regarding school security nationwide. He expressed deep concern over the continued captivity of the Chibok schoolgirls, a tragic reminder of the ongoing crisis.

Furthermore, Ene pointed out the broader impact of these attacks, noting a significant rise in out-of-school children, especially in the northern states. Many parents, particularly in troubled regions such as Borno, Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Benue, Plateau, and Adamawa, are increasingly reluctant to enroll their children in schools due to fear of kidnappings.

Reiterating the call for community policing, Ene argued that local residents are better suited to protect their areas than external forces unfamiliar with the local terrain.

He believes that empowering communities in this way is the most effective strategy to ensure the safety of both people and property.