The Federal Government has directed vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts across Nigeria to dismiss any student found guilty of kidnapping or related crimes following due investigation.
The directive was issued by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, during a meeting with the pro-chancellor, governing council, and management of the Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, held in Abuja.
Alausa warned that institutions must not tolerate criminality among students, stressing that inaction could breed a dangerous culture of impunity on campuses.
“If you tolerate bad behaviour for too long, it becomes a culture. 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.
The minister also instructed heads of tertiary institutions to strengthen internal intelligence systems and deepen collaboration with the Department of State Services and other security agencies to improve campus safety.
While acknowledging that universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education remain largely safe, Alausa said recent incidents involving students outside campuses highlighted the urgent need for improved intelligence gathering and closer cooperation with security agencies.
“We have a collective responsibility to protect every Nigerian child, from primary school to tertiary education. While our campuses remain safe, we must continue to strengthen intelligence gathering and work closely with our security agencies to ensure that students are protected both within and outside our institutions,” he said.
The minister disclosed that he recently held talks with the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), to develop a coordinated strategy for strengthening the Safe Schools Initiative.
He also reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s standing directive that government institutions must neither negotiate with nor pay ransom to kidnappers, warning that doing so only emboldens criminal groups.
To further boost security infrastructure, Alausa announced that the Federal Government would support perimeter fencing and other security upgrades in tertiary institutions through the 2027 intervention programme of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
The directive followed concerns raised by the Federal University of Lafia’s Pro-Chancellor, Lola Akande, who disclosed that some students of the institution were suspected of involvement in kidnapping activities carried out off campus. She reaffirmed the university’s opposition to paying ransom for abducted victims.
Digital Operations Manager at The Students Forum Nigeria.
