The National Association of Nigerian Students has stated that Nigeria’s internal security system has failed in its primary responsibility of protecting citizens and ensuring safe learning environments.
The NANS National President, Olushola Oladoja, said the Safe School Initiative had remained ineffective despite huge funding and repeated government promises, according to a statement he personally signed on Wednesday.
Oladoja lamented that for more than 10 years, the nation had witnessed a “cycle of grief” without justice, reform, or assurances that students were safe in their classrooms.
The statement partly read, “Too many schools had fallen to terrorists under circumstances that pointed to poor coordination, intelligence lapses, and leadership complacency.”
He blamed the police leadership for what he described as a broad internal security collapse that had emboldened terrorists to repeatedly attack schools.
“The failure of these offices to coordinate intelligence, enforce preventive security, and protect defenceless students is unacceptable,” he said.
Oladoja warned that Nigeria must stop “rewarding incompetence” in matters affecting lives and national stability.
Referencing the recent Kebbi school attack, he said NANS was worried about possible internal sabotage, noting that terrorists struck minutes after a reported military withdrawal.
He urged the National Security Adviser, Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, and Service Chiefs to set up a high-level investigation panel to probe alleged insider collaboration.
