More security planned for schools amid rising kidnappings
The Safe School Project is set to boost security in schools across Nigeria, following a series of high-profile abductions. Emmanuel Ocheja, Commander of the National Safe Schools Response and Coordination Centre, said more personnel and stronger security measures will be deployed. The initiative aims to combine physical protection, intelligence, and community engagement to better safeguard students and staff. Despite these efforts, many states have yet to fully implement the Safe Schools Initiative, leaving schools vulnerable.
What we know
- Emmanuel Ocheja announced plans to deploy more security personnel and enhance intelligence-driven protection in schools.
- The project will involve state governments, local communities, and groups like Man O’ War, focusing on both physical and non-kinetic security measures.
- On November 17, 2025, 24 students were abducted and a vice-principal killed in Kebbi State; days later, over 300 students and 12 teachers were kidnapped in Niger State.
- Despite the Federal Government’s Safe Schools Initiative launched in May 2014, 30 states have yet to fully implement it, and funding remains inconsistent.
- Many schools in northern states have been closed due to ongoing abductions, with some coordination centres still lacking essential equipment and activation.
