HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CALLS FOR IMPROVED SAFE SCHOOL PROGRAM NATIONWIDE. (PHOTO).

 House of Representatives calls For Improved Safe School Program Nationwide

Alarmed by mounting threats to the safety of pupils and learning environments, the House of Representatives has issued an urgent call to Governments at all levels  to urgently activate a fully functional Safe School framework Nationwide.

This followed two motions in reaction to the recent abduction of school children and thier teachers in Borno and Oyo state.

REPS DEMAND URGENT RESCUE OF ABDUCTED PUPILS, RENEW CALL FOR STATE POLICE

The House of Representatives on Tuesday urged the federal government and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo and Borno states.

The House also advocated the expansion of school protection initiatives through early warning systems, community-based security arrangements and security awareness programmes.

  

Lawmakers passed the resolution following a motion of urgent public importance on attacks targeting schools.

They condemned the May 15 attack in Oriire LGA, Oyo State, where terrorists abducted over 40 pupils, students and teachers from schools in Esiele, Yawota and Alawusa communities, killing an assistant headmaster and a mathematics teacher. The House also referenced recent attacks in Borno State that left students and teachers missing.

  

The House urged the federal government to expand the Safe Schools Initiative and deploy early warning systems in vulnerable communities.

It renewed its call for the creation of state police, arguing that decentralised policing would improve response time to attacks on schools and rural communities.

“Community-based security arrangements and security awareness programmes must be prioritised to protect learners and teachers,” the House said.

The Defence Headquarters and Nigeria Police Force had yet to respond as of press time.