Dear Distinguished Senators,
Call for motion on the need to make a security studies / management as a general studies in Nigeria higher institutions of learning
My name is Adebayo Sule Omeiza, I hail from Okehi Local Government Area at Oboroke – Ihima in Kogi State Nigeria. I have my first Degree B.Sc. on Criminology and Security Studies from National Open University of Nigeria and Master of Science on Criminology and Security Studies from Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rivers State, Port- Harcourt, Nigeria. Also Fellow of intelligence and investigation forensics studies from Security and Forensic Studies Nigeria. Currently a lecturer in National Institute for Nigerian Languages, Aba, Abia State.
It is no longer news that various institutions of higher learning have lost irreplaceable various levels of students and fresh graduate and National Youth Service Corps who could have be our assets tomorrow in nation building to various security attacks and lost them forever. Considering the current home and world security threats to life and property across the countries there are a lots of benefits the nation and the Nigeria’s higher institutions of learning would get when security studies in either 100 level or 200 level is made a general studies when a bill is sponsored and voted for by this hallow chamber to become a law in Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education while same should also be advocated in our various Secondary Schools of our dear country.
It is no longer debatable that security threats are a major concern around the world and it is of a great concern when they affect our higher institutions of learning, be it public or private. So, the idea of making security studies a general study in respective students’ area of discipline in Nigeria higher institutions could be beneficial in the following ways among others.
One, it could help raise more awareness about security threats among students of various disciplines. Two, teach students how to stay safe in case of any emergency and even train future security professionals. Similarly, it could provide students with the skills and knowledge to identify and report security threats, which could help prevent attacks. In addition, it could prepare students for careers in security – related fields such as law enforcement, intelligence and emergency Management, this would help to promote national security and stability which will lead to economic growth and development as it would attract investors to our dear country, Nigeria.
Cases of students and higher institutions victimization
Uwaila Vera Omozuwa, a 22 years old student at the University of Benin, who was raped and murdered in a Church in Edo State in June, 2020. This case sparked wide spread outrage and protests calling for justice for Uwaila and for improved security measures in Universities, while lenting my voice on that call, it is also germane to advocate for security as a general studies for every student in all higher institutions of learning across the country. Details on Uwaila’s news available at https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/06/miss-uwaila-vera-omozuwa/amp/
According to a Punch newspaper online published on 7 December,2023 and retrieved on 2nd January,2024. It was reported unknown gunmen have allegedly abducted 10 students of the Federal University of Lafia . Speaking to Journalists in Lafia on the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the institutions, Abubakar Ibrahim, confirmed the incident. He however, noted that the total number of students abducted was yet to be ascertained. Details on this incident is available at https://punchng.com/gunmen-attack-nasarawa-varsity-allegedly-abduct-10-students/?amp
Again, it was reported in online Punch newspaper how bandits attacked Zamfara Varsity hostels and students kidnapped which took place September 21, 2023 and retrieved on 6th January, 2024. According to a security and intelligence Platform, Eons intelligence, the unspecified numbers of kidnapped victims, including female students were taken away after the assailants broke into three hostels buildings through the windows. More details available at https://punchng.com/Zamfara-varsity-directs-students-to-relocate-over-bandits-attacks/
Considering the various incidents of students and higher institutions of learning attacks, it is rather a failure of responsibility by the Government whose primary responsibility is the protection of life and property of it citizens, when it citizens do not know what to do and where to run to when they faced security threats of various dimensions. The growing importance of involving civil population in security practice is very evident in the contemporary world, this view is supported by President John F. Kennedy several decades ago, at the height of nuclear threat episode between East bloc led by the defunct Soviet Union and the West bloc led by the United States, according to him:
To recognize the possibilities of nuclear war in the missile age, without our citizens knowing what they should do and where they should go if bombs begin to fall, would be a failure of responsibility (Kennedy, 1961). Taking it further, especially in Nigeria higher institutions of learning, recognizing the possibility of higher institutions’ attack by Bandits, kidnapper and armed robbers and our students don’t know what to do and where to run to for lack of security knowledge, would be a failure of all and sundry.
Therefore, I am praying this hallow chamber of the 10th National Assembly in their good spirit to move motion compelling all higher institutions of learning be it the public or private to make a security studies a general studies for all categories of students, their discipline notwithstanding, as doing this would make thousands of students of higher institutions of learning have a basic knowledge of security Management, complementing the effort of the government in ensuring the safety of life and property of it citizens. I so moved. Thank you.