The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has disclosed plans to organise a one-day sensitisation workshop for personnel of security agencies to proffer a lasting solution to the consistent attacks on schools by kidnappers in the North Central geo-political zone
According to the NSCDC, the workshop which is expected to have 500 security personnel in attendance, will be held at the Nasarawa State Government House, Lafia, the state capital, on Thursday.
The Commander, National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre, CSC Tersoo Shaapera, disclosed this during a press briefing on Tuesday in the Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
He explained that the attacks on many schools across the country necessitated the Federal Government to launch the programme, adding that the NSCDC will be collaborating with the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police Force, the Department of State Services, and private security organisations for the safe schools’ drive.
Shaapera mentioned the functions of the NSSRCC to include formulating school-host community engagement programmes for information gathering and security alert; advocacy, capacity development and creating awareness on safe schools approach; provide forensic evidence-based response, amongst others.
“The challenge cuts across all geo-political zones though with differences in its manifestation. Terrorism and insurgency has resulted in the worrisome kidnap and abduction of students and teachers with the destruction of physical structures of schools.
“The willingness and ability to end attacks on schools which has been overwhelmingly supported by the government, has today resulted in the establishment of the NSSRCC. The existence of the centre which is just 10 to 11 months is heartwarming,” Shaapera said.
The commander added, “For me as the Commander of the centre, the establishment of NSSRCC has come as a serious and strategic intervention to address the menace of insecurity in schools, and gladly, different measures have been taken as panacea to ending the problem.
“With the support and collaboration of all and sundry, I believe the goal is realisable. All we need to do is to demonstrate the willingness to support what the Federal Government has started. We must all unite against anything that will affect the teaching and learning process in any school, both the ones in urban, semi-urban and rural areas.”
Earlier, while welcoming Shaapera and his entourage to the state, the Commandant of the NSCDC in the state, Abbas Bappa-Muhammed, pledged the total commitment of all personnel of the command to ensure the protection of schools across the 13 LGAs of the state.
