By Sam Kaye
Following incessant attacks on schools, in the North East of Nigeria, the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General Chris Musa has called on security agencies, Parents Teacher Associations, PTA’s Traditional/Religious leaders, Civil Society Organizations, (CSOs) and other stakeholders to synergize towards the protection of schools.
He said, that protection of school children from attacks or kidnappings by terrorists must not be left in the hands of the military alone but should be a collective responsibility.
General Musa stated this while addressing participants at a One-Day Workshop organized for all stakeholders which took place at Command Guest House, 7Div, Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
This reporter recalls that many schools such as Government Girls Secondary School Chibok in Borno, Dapchi and Buni Yadi in Yobe, Kaduna, Sokoto, Niger, Zamfara, and Katsina states among others have been attacked, leaving many students dead or kidnapped.
While declaring the Workshop open, with the theme: ‘Providing Secured and Safe Learning Environment for the Advancement of National Development’, the CDS said, the event is apt.
His words: “This workshop, is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and is meant to secure Nigerian public and private schools from attacks.
“The Workshop was established in March 2024 to operationalize the Armed Forces of Nigeria for best options in the protection of our schools, so that our children/students will operate in a safe and secure environment.
” I am happy that the programme which has moved to the second stage of mobilizing Units and Formations across the country is geared towards making our schools safe.
“Therefore, the Armed Forces of Nigeria is for Nigerians, and together we can protect our children from terrorists and those who seek to destroy our country”. He stressed.
CDS Musa therefore enjoined participants drawn from the military and paramilitary to feel free and commit themselves to ensuring a fruitful deliberation at the just concluded workshop.
Stakeholders, including the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Civil Defence Corps, Traditional rulers and religious leaders who spoke at the event, commended General Musa for organizing such an important workshop, which they said would go a long way in collectively addressing the menace of attacks on schools and improve on educational development.