Nigeria to Train Hunters and Vigilantes to Combat School Attacks

Nigeria's National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre, part of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, has announced plans to train hunters and vigilantes in information management to enhance grassroots security and combat school attacks nationwide. The National Coordinator of the Financing Safe Schools Initiative, Halima Iliya, revealed that hunters and vigilantes will be actively involved in intelligence-gathering efforts to address the growing threat of attacks on educational institutions.

According to the Centre's Commander, Hammed Abodunrin, these community stakeholders will receive specialized training in information management to facilitate prompt responses from relevant security agencies. By leveraging the local knowledge and presence of hunters and vigilantes, the Centre aims to gather and report information that can aid in addressing security threats at the grassroots level.

Why this matters: The involvement of hunters and vigilantes in combating school attacks highlights the severity of the security challenges facing Nigeria's education sector. This collaborative approach between community stakeholders and security agencies emphasizes the urgent need to protect students and ensure safe learning environments across the country.

Nigeria has been grappling with a surge in attacks and kidnappings targeting students and educational facilities, particularly in parts of the country where criminal groups, commonly referred to as 'bandits', operate. These attacks have been attributed to factors such as governance failures, the presence of large forest zones that serve as safe havens for armed groups, and the vulnerability of children.

The impacts of these attacks are far-reaching, including loss of lives, the burden of fear and sexual violence, forced displacement, and decreasing school enrollment. To address these challenges, experts have suggested a holistic approach that involves security sector reform, revitalizing the Safe School Initiative program, and providing social support and healthcare delivery to victims.

Halima Iliya emphasized the importance of partnering with affected communities and addressing the root causes of the problem. "The goal is to leverage the local knowledge and presence of these community stakeholders to gather and report information that can aid in addressing security threats at the grassroots level," she stated.

Key Takeaways

• Nigeria's Safe Schools Response Centre to train hunters, and vigilantes in information management
• Aim is to leverage local knowledge to address security threats and protect schools
• Nigeria faces surge in attacks and kidnappings targeting students and educational facilities
• Impacts include loss of lives, fear, sexual violence, displacement, and decreased enrollment
• Experts suggest holistic approach involving security reform, revitalizing Safe School Initiative