NSCDC EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER PROLIFERATION OF ARMS AND WEAPONS AMONG STUDENTS IN IMO 03-02-24.
By Sadiq Aminu The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps in Imo state has expressed concern over the proliferation of arms and other dangerous weapons among secondary school students in the area.
The Commandant of the Corps in the State Mr. Mathew Ovye made the expression at sensitization and community engagement programme on safe school project held in Owerri, the Imo state capital.
He explained that the command had arrested many students in connection with illegal possession of arms and vowed to step up the fight against cultism in the area.
Mr. Ovye said the workshop was organized for security agents and other stakeholders in the education sector partnering with the NSCDC in protection of schools across the state to brainstorm on measures to ensure that the rising insecurity in schools was brought under control.
The Commandant noted that the Corps had responded to distress calls in schools through collaboration with the state government and appealed to security agents involved in the exercise to be professional and operate within the arm bits of the law.
The Coordinator of the Programme which is domiciled at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Abuja Dr. Ifeoma Ernest-Chukwu said the sensitization on safe school project was part of efforts by the government to make learning environment safe and gave an assurance that security agencies would not relent until schools especially those in the rural areas are safe.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education Imo state Mrs. Chinyere Ibe stated that global insecurity had taken a worrisome dimension but gave an assurance that the state government would do everything within its means to protect citizens.
One of the Participants representing a community school in Owerri North local government area of the state Mr. Peter Emeribe described the workshop as laudable but called on the government to support in erecting perimeter fences in schools and provide modern gadgets as suggested by the stakeholders to improve security.
The workshop was attended by representatives of security agencies, traditional rulers, Heads of Primary and Secondary schools as well as Heads of Parents Teachers Association.