Nation
Insecurity: Educationists Harp On Community Intelligence, Non-Conventional Approach
Some educationists have harped on the use of community intelligence and non-conventional approach to tackle the spate of insecurity being witnessed in Nigerian schools.
Prof Oyesoji Aremu, a security scholar at the Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies and Prof Adams Onuka, an education evaluation expert both from University of Ibadan, stated this in separate interviews in Ibadan yesterday.
Aremu said that more than ever before, efforts should be directed to community intelligence and non-conventional approaches to school security. It is also instructive, to take a cue from best practice in other countries.
He said that at this point, governments both Federal and states as well as stakeholders should be more proactive in ensuring school safety.
According to him, it is no longer news that we have a more dangerous problem at hand, the signals of which are endangered to the future of education.
Aremu said that Nigerian schools never had it so bad given the spate of abductions in the last few months.
“While national security took a deep sunk as of 2009, nobody expects schools in Nigeria to witness the scourge of insecurity that is fast eclipsing teaching and learning in some parts of the country.
“Criminals under different appellations now see abductions of school students of different categories as soft targets.
“Given the continued spate of abductions especially in the last few months, Nigeria currently has the world’s highest record of school students abduction-for-ransom cases globally.
“About 2.099 million dollars (N800 million) is reported to have been paid to criminals as ransom between December, 2020 and May, 2021,” he said.
According to him, this shows how school insecurity in the country has become a very ‘lucrative’ business. This obviously portends some grievous implications for the future of school and education in Nigeria.
Aremu noted that there are emerging concerns bothering on the festering internal security challenge, the end of which seems not in sight as a result of the unfortunate dimension of school insecurity.
“Another concern bothers on how the spate of abductions in many schools (including higher institutions) would rub off on out-of-school statistics especially in the North, where there are over 13.2 million out-of-school children (the highest in the world).
“Abductions and kidnappings as being witnessed unabated could lead to some morbid fears among students and pupils, parents and school personnel. This could therefore, bring about a poor attitude to school and schooling activities,” he said.
Onuka, however, stated that the problem now was beyond what the government can handle alone “and if that is the case there is the need for some ‘self help.”
“In the sense that schools, parents and communities should also come together and probably get some funds for vigilante groups to secure the school, apart from putting some other security measures in place.”
He noted that with the spate of insecurity the government was overwhelmed with its financial resources and so, well meaning Nigerians need to collaborate with the government to tackle the present menace.
“People in various communities have to find ways to secure their communities, particularly children who are the future of tomorrow,” Onuka said.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.
Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.
The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.
“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.
Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state
He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.
“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.
While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.
He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.
Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.
Rivers State University and the Otonti Nduka Foundation for Values Education jointly hosted a two-day National Conference on 8 and 9 May 2026 to examine the state of values in Nigeria.
The two days conference held at Rivers State University convocation arena brought together academics, policymakers, legal experts and education leaders under the theme _“Trends and Challenges in Upholding Values in Nigeria.”_
The gathering focused on policy gaps, curriculum reform, and the role of ethics in public service and education.
The event opened on Friday with remarks from Vice Chancellor Prof. Chief Isaac Zeb-Obipi, who stressed the need to address declining moral and civic values across Nigeria’s education and public sectors. A book of abstracts for the plenary sessions was also presented to participants.
Key speakers included former Attorney General Chief Dr Kanu Agabi, SAN; NERDC Executive Secretary Prof. Shehu Salisu; Prof. Hauwa Imam, FNAE, of the University of Abuja; former Rivers SUBEB Chairman Ven Dr Fyneface Akah, ; former NIMASA DG Dr Hon. Dakuku Adol-Peterside; and RSU Director of ICT Prof. Sunny Orike.
Discussions centered on integrating values education into schools, tertiary institutions and public institutions, alongside the impact of technology on moral development among young Nigerians. Panel and plenary sessions produced practical recommendations for curriculum and policy reform.
On Saturday, the foundation marked its centenary with the unveiling of the book _Otonti Nduka in History_, launched by Chief Engr. Grant Offor, FNSE. The Nigerian Academy of Education held a ceremonial procession led by its President Prof. Olu Jegede and the Ikwerre Professors Forum.
In a communiqué, participants called for stronger collaboration between government, civil society and academia to mainstream values education nationwide. They recommended reviewing teacher training curricula and expanding digital platforms to promote ethical civic engagement, with the foundation pledging to share the outcomes with education authorities for implementation.
Dignitaries present included Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide as Chief Host, Prof. Emeritus Chief T. Uzodimma Nwala, the Ikenga 1 of Mbaise and first philosophy student of Prof. Otonti Nduka, alongside scholars and community leaders.
Amadi Akujobi
