The Federal Government has directed vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts of tertiary institutions to dismiss, after due investigation, any student involved in kidnapping or related crimes.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, gave the directive during a meeting with the Pro-Chancellor, Governing Council and management of the Federal University of Lafia, yesterday.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, the minister said: “Any student found culpable, after due investigation, of planning or participating in the kidnapping of fellow students has no place in our tertiary institutions. Such individuals must be dismissed. Our campuses must never become safe havens for criminal elements.”
He said Nigeria’s universities, polytechnics and colleges of education were largely safe, but recent isolated cases involving students outside campuses showed the need for stronger intelligence gathering and closer collaboration with security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS).
Alausa reiterated that no public institution should negotiate with or pay ransom to kidnappers, warning that doing so would encourage criminality. He directed governing councils to establish internal intelligence mechanisms, saying he had met the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd.), to strengthen the Safe Schools Initiative nationwide.
