NAN-H-27
Kidnapping (open)
NAPTAN
By Yinka Olawale
Lagos, Oct. 8, 2016 (NAN) The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) on Saturday appealed to Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to urgently provide 24-hour security surveillance in all boarding schools in Lagos State.
Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, the Deputy President of the association, made the appeal while reacting to the kidnapping of six persons from a school in Epe on Thursday.
Ogunbanjo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the spate of kidnapping was becoming “one incident, too many’’.
NAN reports that four students, a teacher and the principal of the Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe Local Government, Mr Oyesola, were kidnapped by unknown gunmen Thursday morning.
Ogunbanjo recalled that similar incident happened in a private school in Ikorodu area of the state earlier in the year.
“Now, a repeat, indicating that there is serious security lapses, which must be addressed urgently,’’ he said.
The deputy president urged the state government to to facilitate the drafting of police and civil defence personnel to protect schools until normalcy returns.
He said the kidnappers were professionals, judging from the skills and tools they displayed during the operation.
“Before now in Lagos State, about 15 to 20 years back, we used to have Man O’ War in schools to beef up security and ensure that students stay in school, but all these are no more.
“We must now start to do something like that to safeguard the lives of our children.
“The Civil Defence Corps should rise up to the situation and start to protect our schools.
“This is an eye opener for the government to do something about it.
“Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode should start to protect our schools and ensure that students are safe during school hours.
“Government must provide 24-hour security in all our boarding schools.
“We condemn kidnapping of innocent children, just as the Chibok schoolgirls incident that had remain unsolved,’’ he said.
The deputy president appealed to parents to remain calm and allow the government take measures to protect schools.
“Parents should not panic because the government is now doing something reasonable to ensure that students are protected,’’ Ogunbanjo said.
He also suggested that the government may give a one-week break, to fully strategise and organise adequate security to all public schools. (NAN)
OOG/AIB/MZA
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Maharazu Ahmed