Ortom Takes Action To Prevent Kidnapping In Benue Schools

Governor Samuel Orotm of Benue State has set up a committee to look into and forestall insecurity and kidnapping in schools across the state.

In a statement on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Education, Prof Dennis Ityavyar, the governor has appointed his Special Adviser on Security, Retired Col. Paul Hemba, as its Chairman, while he will serve as the alternate Chairman.

He said the committee is to look at the issue of security in schools, especially boarding schools and schools located in border areas.

The commissioner said in Makurdi on Wednesday that the Ministry of Education already compiled comprehensive data of all primary and secondary school students in the state.

He added that the ministry had directed the Benue State University (BSU) and other tertiary institutions to immediately update their respective data and forward the same to it.

“We don’t have up-to-date information on tertiary institutions, but we know that it is important for us to do so. We have asked BSU and other tertiary institutions to give us their latest data.

“We do not expect anything to happen in any of our schools because we have been proactive.

“We are doing something to ensure that we are not taken unawares, but our steps will not be discussed in the media,’’ he said.

Ityavyar added that the state’s Security Council had noted incidents of student abduction in parts of the country hence the establishment of the committee.

He said the committee was not leaving any stone unturned to ensure that boarding schools and schools located in border communities were safe.

Recall that three students of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, were kidnapped recently but were released unhurt four days after their abduction.