Security
HALOGEN Group has said that making schools and education institutions safe and secure places to learn and grow is a moral and legal responsibility
This was revealed in findings from a study it carried out which sought to understand the factors contributing to insecurity and attacks, the frequencies, the nature of the incidents, and patterns of attacks, whilst providing recommendations that can assist in addressing them.
The report, which provides a detailed analysis of the security incidents and challenges of schools and academic institutions in Nigeria, from July 2009 till March 2021, showed that there is no single action that will, by itself, make the students and staff safe in the learning environment.
According to the report, 40% of primary schools have been most hit by the attacks this was perhaps due to their vulnerabilities,
“Thirty-five percent of the attacks were targeted at girls. This segment often attracts more attention when attacked due to the number of girls already captured and married off, which the international community finds abhorrent.
Its findings also revealed that “25% attackers have been less successful in tertiary institutions possibly as a result of some existing internal measures, as many have proprietary and/or private security operatives at their campus.
It also discovered that 22% of private education establishments are susceptible to attacks, especially if they are located at vulnerable locations.
It noted that 78% of the attacks, however, often happen at unexpected hours, which often lead to devastating consequences.
According to the report, 52% of the attacks on day schools occurred after school hours, although there are a few instances where assailants boldly attack while academic activities are ongoing, and 48% of boarding schools are vulnerable at night due to poor or inadequate security arrangements.
The report also indicated that 17% of total attacks were carried out in January and that August recorded the lowest attacks, compared to other months. However, attacks tend to pick up in February.
“Thirteen percent of the attacks recorded were predominantly by terrorists and insurgents.
“At the height of the onslaught, more than 50% of schools were shut in the Northern region of Nigeria. A particular private establishment, Success International School, located along the Old Maiduguri road, was frequently attacked probably due to its proximity to the open path.
“In Borno, schools at all levels were closed at 22 out of 27 LGAs for at least two years and public secondary schools in Maiduguri, reopened in February 2016 after internally displaced people, IDPs, who occupied most of the schools, were relocated
“Primary and junior secondary schools were non-existent in two LGAs in Yobe for three years, while public senior secondary schools were relocated from Gujba and Gulani to Damaturu,” it said.
The report also suggested that some of the attacks might have been prevented if the schools and dormitories had good security infrastructure, better physical protections, and enhanced security response to early warning signs and threats.
“As the insurgents had warned the schools and sometimes local authorities of their intention to attack, but it appeared that the threats were either ignored or not taken seriously,” it said.
To achieve a pre-emptive response, the Halogen study recommended the “Introduction of security education in schools’ curriculum as a compulsory subject.
It requested that “Students should become sources of security intelligence with guidance on what to look out for with regards to indicators of insecurity. The students should be one of the best sources of information
Schools are urged to “develop a culture of ‘see something say something’ amongst students, teachers, and parents, Conduct regular safety audits and security drills, such as emergency drills, evacuation, lockdown, and emergency response activities and every school must have a security policy or strategy or plan.
“School infrastructure and facilities must have ‘blocking mechanisms’ that make them not too easy to access and/or attack.
“These mechanisms should be combinations of physical and electronic solutions and devices, Onsite incident response like the presence of dedicated police officer(s) on-site, engaging private security operatives – for physical and electronic solutions, use of volunteer security personnel from the community (such as veterans or retired law enforcement),” it said.
The study also recommended that security must become part of any establishment.
“The security of schools and education institutions has not been given sufficient attention in Nigeria, as much as it deserves.
“Hence, this needs to be included in peace-building efforts across Nigeria and must be tailored to each specific environment.
It, however, warned that there must be a balance as “too much security or too heavy-handed a footprint can add psychological insecurity to the individuals – student and staff – and community, which can do harm even if there are no safety and security issues/challenges.
“Therefore, a balance must be struck and maintained. The safety and security interventions required for our schools and educational institutions cannot be driven from the outside; they must be seen and become part of the establishments’ central ‘culture’,” it said.
– Apr. 20, 2021 @ 18:58 GMT
Tags: Security is a moral and legal responsibility – Halogen Group
