The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has directed vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts to dismiss any student found culpable, after due investigation, of kidnapping or related crimes. Alausa gave the directive during a meeting with the Governing Council and Management of the Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, as part of measures to strengthen security in tertiary institutions.
The minister also urged institutions to improve internal intelligence gathering and strengthen collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies. He said although tertiary institutions remained largely safe, isolated incidents involving students outside campuses required stronger preventive measures and prompt responses.
Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s position that public institutions should not negotiate with kidnappers or pay ransom, warning that such actions could encourage criminality. He said the government was also working with the Defence Ministry to strengthen the Safe Schools Initiative and announced that TETFund’s 2027 intervention would support perimeter fencing and other security infrastructure.
The Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia, Dr Adebimpe Adebajo, said insecurity, student accommodation and electricity challenges remained concerns for the institution. She said the university opposed ransom payments and urged stronger government support, while Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mohammed Kida appealed for the extension of the Energising Education Programme to the university’s second campus.
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