The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has revealed that the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre (NSSRCC) has foiled no fewer than 48 attacks on schools in different locations, such as Zamfara and Nasarawa States.
The Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr Abubakar Ahmed Audi, made this known on Tuesday while briefing newsmen on activities preparatory for the maiden National Summit on Safe School with the theme: “Tackling Identified Threats in the Nigerian Safe Schools Project.”
The summit is coming after the flag-off of the implementation of the National Safe Schools Project, which was performed on February 13, 2023, at the Headquarters of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Sauka-Abuja.
Audi noted that efforts made by Nigeria to develop a National Plan for Financing Safe Schools 2023–2026, which was launched in December 2022, led to the establishment of the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre (NSSRCC), currently housed at the National Headquarters of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
“Permit me to place on record that the existence of the Centre has started yielding positive results as it has foiled no fewer than 48 attacks on schools at different locations, such as Zamfara and Nasarawa Stars.
“This feat is an indication that when more stakeholders are sensitised to their significant roles on this serious issue of safer schools, more successes will be achieved,” he said.
Audi noted that education is known and described as the bedrock of any society, lamenting, however, that globally, the unfolding trend of events has presented serious attacks on education, with Nigeria as one of the countries badly affected.
He recalled that the abduction of 276 girls in April 2014 from Government Girls Secondary School Chibok in Borno State, 110 girls from Government Girls Science School Dapchi in Yobe State, Bethel College Kaduna, Government Secondary School Kagara in Niger State, and the killing of schoolboys in Buni Yadi, Yobe State, and Greenfield University Kaduna, among other numerous attacks on education, could attest to the prevalence of such attacks and their consequences on the sector.
The NSCDC boss, therefore, commended the courage and determination of the federal government, which has taken bold steps in order to reverse the ugly situation.
He added that to clearly demonstrate this commitment, the federal government endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration on May 29, 2015, which is a global intergovernmental political commitment that provides countries with opportunities to express support for protecting students, teachers, schools, and universities from attack during times of armed conflict.
“Also, in 2019, the federal government signed the instrument of ratification of the Safe Schools Declaration (SSD), signalling Nigeria’s commitment to ratify and uphold the principles of the SSD.
“The commitment by Nigeria to end all forms of attacks on the sector has led the nation to develop relevant instruments like the National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence Free Schools, the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools Declaration, a training manual for mainstreaming the Safe Schools Declaration into security agencies, and human rights organisation trainings and rules of engagement,” he said.
He disclosed that the maiden summit was designed to sensitise the key relevant stakeholders on the coordination role of the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre as a product of the financing of safe schools committed by the Nigerian government.
He said it would also foster a nationwide dialogue that seeks to present systematic reflections and offer practical advice for effective implementation of the Safe Schools Project, among others.
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