FG Unveils New Measures to Tackle School Abductions as Lagos Boosts School Security

FG Unveils New Measures to Tackle School Abductions as Lagos Boosts School Security

The Federal Government has introduced new measures aimed at addressing school abductions, insecurity and other emerging threats affecting basic education across Nigeria, as authorities move to strengthen protection for pupils and school infrastructure nationwide.

The government said key issues such as school safety, education in emergencies, climate change, and gender-based violence have now been integrated into revised operational guidelines for School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs). The updated framework is designed to improve community participation in safeguarding schools and ensuring uninterrupted learning.

The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, disclosed this during a three-day training programme in Kano for stakeholders from the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Garba, who was represented by the Head of Community Engagement and Social Mobilisation at UBEC, Patricia Uche, said the review was prompted by rising cases of banditry, kidnapping and attacks on schools across the country.

She explained that one of the key updates in the revised guidelines is the introduction of stronger provisions on education in crisis situations, aimed at improving preparedness and response to security emergencies affecting schools and surrounding communities.

According to her, the new framework places greater responsibility on local communities to support school authorities in identifying security threats and implementing preventive measures.

“One of the major updates is education in crisis. We are talking about recent cases of banditry, kidnapping and other security challenges affecting schools and communities,” she said.

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Uche added that the revised Safe School Initiative is a major component of the new policy, noting that many public primary schools remain vulnerable due to lack of fencing and limited security infrastructure.

She said communities are now expected to play a more active role in monitoring schools and advocating safety improvements to protect both learners and teachers.

“We have also introduced safe school initiatives because many public primary schools are not fenced and remain vulnerable. We want communities to become more involved in identifying risks and advocating measures that will make schools safer,” she added.

The move comes amid renewed national concern over repeated school kidnapping incidents, which have raised fears among parents and education stakeholders in several states.

In a related development, the Lagos State Police Command has stepped up security across the state following the circulation of a threatening notice alleging a planned attack and abduction of schoolchildren by suspected bandits.

The notice, reportedly found within a school environment, triggered anxiety among residents and parents. However, police authorities have reassured the public that there is currently no verified intelligence indicating an imminent attack in Lagos State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said Commissioner of Police Tijani Fatai ordered an immediate security review and directed the deployment of additional officers to schools, strategic locations and vulnerable communities as a precautionary measure.

“The Command wishes to reassure parents, guardians, school authorities and residents that there is currently no verified intelligence indicating any imminent threat of such an attack within Lagos State,” she said.

She added that security personnel, in collaboration with other agencies, have been deployed across key locations to prevent any attempt by criminal elements to disrupt public safety or target educational institutions.

The police warned that criminal groups, including kidnappers and bandits, would not be allowed to operate in Lagos, stressing that anyone attempting to cause panic or insecurity would face the full weight of the law.

The development reflects ongoing nationwide efforts to strengthen school security, as authorities intensify both preventive and response measures to protect educational institutions from attacks.

FG Unveils New Measures to Tackle School Abductions as Lagos Boosts School Security