Peace Corps raises concerns over continued bandits’ invasions of schools across Nigeria

The Peace Corps of Nigeria, PCN has expressed grave concerns over the continued invasion of educational institutions by bandits across the country with callous abductions of innocent pupils and teachers for ransom purposes.

The Corps warned that the systemic criminal assault on the academic system, if left unchecked, will undermine the fabric of the educational sector. 

Addressing a media conference in Abuja on Wednesday, National Commandant of the Corps, Dickson Akoh lamented that the wanton attacks on schools will not only induce severe psychological trauma and pervasive fear among students, but will also profoundly discourage parents from sending their wards to schools and colleges, thereby jeopardizing the future of Nigerian youth.

In view of the escalating insecurity across the country, most notably the frequent invasions, targeting, and kidnapping of staff and students, Akoh canvassed the deployment of Peace Corps personnel to educational institutions to tackle the challenges headlong. 

According to him, “the initiative seeks to deploy a layered security framework that integrates grassroots monitoring with robust early-warning systems to detect and mitigate threats before they escalate. 

“By training and deploying disciplined officers and men as specialized safety officers, the initiative will address critical issues such as cultism, drug abuse, and unauthorized access, establishing a proactive, community-driven presence within schools and colleges to safeguard lives and property.

“Operating at the front-lines of the educational institutions, deployed personnel will focus primarily on continuous surveillance and intelligence gathering within school perimeters. 

“By maintaining a constant, vigilant presence, the Corps will be strategically positioned to identify vulnerabilities, track suspicious activities, and detect potential security breaches by intruders. 

“This critical, real-time intelligence will be seamlessly and rapidly transmitted to conventional security agencies, creating a vital link that enables a rapid, coordinated response to neutralize threats before harm can befall the academic community.

Akoh pleaded with the appropriate authorities to consider the position of the Corps towards combating banditry in schools so as to safeguard the educational future of the citizens and national development of the country. 

Peace Corps raises concerns over continued bandits’ invasions of schools across Nigeria