THE Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) says teachers are defenceless against kidnappers, insurgents and other criminal elements attacking schools in parts of the country.
According to 1st Vice President, Kayode Akosile, the insecurity is getting worse at schools and other places in the country because the government is not seriously invested in curbing the situation.
Akosile said government could as well use the money being embezzled and wasted on other not too important things to combat insecurity in the land.
The NUT boss said this while speaking with journalists in Ibadan yesterday on the sidelines of a workshop on privatisation and commercialisations of education organised by NUT in partnership with International and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation.
The NUT boss said, “Learners and teachers are constantly under threat and this is a serious concern to us. This is not limited to the northern part of the country alone. A few days ago, a teacher was kidnapped in Ekiti State and he was not released until ransom was paid.
“Insecurity is degenerating to the level that is unbeatable and we are concerned. We are concerned for the safety of the students and ourselves.
“It is very important for government to arrest the situation. Government is asking us to take our safety into our own hands, how can we defend ourselves? We know how many teachers we have lost to Boko Haram in the North-East and look at the North-West now, kidnapping has almost become a daily occurrence there. It is high time government nipped this in the bud.
“Government can provide security for schools and every other place by making sure that more efficient and effective security personnel are recruited. We don’t want a situation where police will arrive hours after abduction and block the gate with their vehicles and be intimidating parents and sympathisers. When you look at happenings in other climes, you will discover that security has gone digital
“If government is ready to arrest this situation, the money being embezzled could be used to procure equipment like drones and other devices. It is dawning on us seriously that the government is not interested in curbing these things. If the government is interested, these things should not drag for too long.”
Akosile spoke just as the National President of the Parents-Teachers’ Association, Haruna Danjuma, also lamented the insecurity in schools and the entire country.
Danjuma said, “Bandits broke into one of the schools in Kaduna and took some students away. The insecurity is everywhere, it is not limited to the northern part of the country alone. But this must be stopped because it is a huge distraction to teachers, students as well as parents and every Nigerian.”
