NSCDC, Plateau State Education Ministry, Collaborate To Enhance School Security
The Special Female Squad of the Plateau State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, have paid a familiarization visit to the State’s Commissioner of Education, Mrs. Elizabeth Wapmuk.
A statement issued Monday, February 14, 2022, by the Corps’Public Relations Officer, DCC Olusola Odumosu, explains that the visit was in line with the Commandant General’s resolve to tackle the spate of attacks and kidnappings of students in schools in different parts of the Country through the Safe School Initiative.
TheFact Nigeria notes that the Federal Government had, on 27 May, 2021, inaugurated a “Safe to School, Be Seen, Be Safe” initiative to ensure the safety of children in and out of school. A recent report reveals that at least 1409 students have been kidnapped from their schools in Nigeria since the first incident in the country’s latest school abduction epidemic which started in March 2020. In the 19 incidents up until the latest kidnap in Zamfara state, 17 teachers have also been kidnapped alongside their students, and at least ₦220 million has been paid out as ransoms. Unfortunately, 16 of the victims have died in these incidents.
According to the Unit Commander, DSC Rifkatu Margwa, the visit was necessitated by the need to collaborate with critical stakeholders in the State’s educational sector in the fight against insecurity, kidnapping and abduction of school children.
She explained that the CG’s vision behind the establishment of the Special Female Squad is to restore the hope and confidence of Nigerian parents, students, the entire academic and non academic communities in Nigeria’s educational systems as in the not so distant past, by stemming the tide of kidnapping, killings and abduction of school children for ransom across the Nation.
The Commander further reiterated that the CG had directed them to assure the Statetate commissioner of education and the entire government of Plateau State, of the Corps’ readiness to assist in the ongoing efforts to sanitize and rid the sector of any infiltration and attack by any group of criminals.
On her part, the Commissioner appreciated the NSCDC Female Squad for their visit and proactiveness in carrying out their given assignments. She also commended the Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, for his visionary leadership of the NSCDC, as well as his passion for security and safety of the nation.
She further assured of her support for the Safe School Initiative of the CG by assisting to strengthen the capabilities of the Squad through conscious efforts towards making schools in the country safe and secure for learning, and at the same time called on other women in the country to give maximum support to the NSCDC female Squad.
