ABUJA — Guard Time Information (GTI), Human Rights Activists Nationwide, has called for urgent and strengthened security measures across Nigeria’s primary and secondary schools amid growing concerns over attacks and security threats targeting educational institutions in different parts of the country.
The organisation urged the Federal and state governments, security agencies, school authorities, parents, traditional institutions and community stakeholders to deepen collaboration, intelligence sharing and rapid-response mechanisms to protect students, teachers and other members of the school community.
Chairman of GTI, Comrade Bibi Oduku, made the call in Abuja on Monday, stressing that the safety of schools must be treated as a collective national responsibility.
Oduku said the recent security challenges confronting communities and educational institutions underscored the need for schools and their host communities to improve security awareness and establish effective communication channels with relevant security authorities.
According to him, security stakeholders must remain tactically alert and adequately prepared to respond to emerging threats, particularly activities associated with kidnappers, armed criminals and other groups that could endanger students and teachers or disrupt the country’s educational system.
He stressed that protecting schools should not be left entirely to conventional security agencies, noting that parents, teachers, community leaders and other responsible stakeholders have important roles to play in identifying and reporting potential threats.
GTI, NAPTAN Partner on School Safety
The GTI chairman disclosed that the organisation is partnering with the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) to promote security awareness, vigilance and responsible information sharing among teachers and other school stakeholders nationwide.
He explained that the partnership would encourage teachers and members of school communities to remain observant while developing practical channels for promptly communicating credible security concerns to the appropriate authorities.
Oduku said GTI and NAPTAN were also planning nationwide training and awareness programmes for teachers and school stakeholders.
The proposed programmes, he explained, would focus on security awareness, early identification of potential threats, responsible information sharing, emergency communication and appropriate engagement with security agencies.
He said the initiative was designed to contribute to the development of a nationwide school security networking system that would improve communication between educational institutions, communities and law-enforcement and security organisations.
Community Intelligence Key to Prevention
Oduku further advocated greater cooperation between conventional security agencies and legally recognised community-based security structures.
He specifically mentioned the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), vigilante groups, Nigeria Forest Guards and other legally recognised community security initiatives as potential partners in strengthening community-level security, where appropriate and within the limits of the law.
According to him, such structures can complement the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces and other relevant security agencies by providing useful local knowledge and facilitating the early reporting of suspicious activities.
He, however, cautioned community members against taking the law into their own hands.
The GTI chairman urged citizens to report suspected threats and credible security information promptly to the appropriate authorities rather than attempting to confront suspected criminals themselves.
‘Security Is a Collective Responsibility’
Oduku said effective school security requires active participation from all sections of society, particularly communities where schools are located.
“Security is a collective responsibility. Every citizen has a role to play by remaining vigilant, sharing credible information responsibly and supporting the government and security agencies in protecting our communities, schools, students and teachers.”
He said timely information could assist security agencies in identifying emerging threats and responding before incidents escalate into attacks.
The GTI chairman also emphasised that security interventions must be implemented in a manner that respects human rights, protects civilians and preserves the right of children to access safe and uninterrupted education.
Call for Coordinated National Response
GTI called on parents, teachers, school administrators, traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organisations, security stakeholders and government agencies to strengthen existing cooperation and information-sharing mechanisms around schools.
The organisation said a coordinated approach would help create safer learning environments while reducing the vulnerability of students and teachers to criminal attacks.
GTI reaffirmed its commitment to promoting human rights, community safety, security awareness, responsible intelligence sharing and peaceful educational environments across Nigeria.
The organisation maintained that securing schools was not only about protecting buildings but also about safeguarding the lives, dignity and future of Nigerian children and the teachers responsible for educating them.
It therefore urged relevant authorities and stakeholders to give school security sustained attention and ensure that security concerns raised by schools and communities receive timely and appropriate responses.
GTI said stronger cooperation between communities, educational institutions and security agencies would ultimately contribute to safer schools and a more stable educational system capable of supporting Nigeria’s long-term development.
Issued by:
Comrade Bibi Oduku
Chairman, Guard Time Information (GTI)
Human Rights Activists Nationwide
Abuja, FCT, Nigeria.
