LONDON – Mrs Henrietta Abraham, Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora, UK South Chapter, has called for introduction of day schools in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states currently under emergency rule.
Abraham made the call in an interview with the Europe Correspondent of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in London on Friday.
She explained that the measure would serve as temporary solution to the attacks on schools by insurgents in the north east.
“There is need for government to ensure a temporary switch from boarding to day schooling for all schools in areas under state of emergency rule in the country.
“Government needs to find a lasting solution to curb terrorism and insurgency in the country. Boarding house has its own advantage, so, its closure will not be the solution to these attacks.’’
She stressed that Government also had to intensify efforts to free the abducted girls in Chibok. “There should be some kind of collaboration with the Cameroonian authorities.’’
Mrs Jenny Okafor, President of the Nigerian Women in Diaspora Leadership Group, urged government to strengthen security even if studies were restricted to day schooling.
Okafor, who described the situation as unfortunate, expressed support for the protest by other civil society groups in the country.
Mrs Kachallom Inuwa, a member of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (CANUK), said temporary suspension of boarding schools would be a proactive measure.
“This should be in addition to increased security by vigilance groups, police and paramilitary personnel.’’
Inuwa, whose two nieces were among the abducted girls, said “what happened in Chibok could have occurred anywhere in Nigeria, this is a threat to our fundamental human rights and survival as a people.
“If you are not related to any of the victims, you will definitely be affected by their circumstances. Today, it is Chibok, tomorrow it may be elsewhere’’, she stressed.
All others who spoke to NAN were unanimous in their calls for temporary closure of boarding schools in the affected states and called for new strategies in curbing insurgency.
Mr Dele Adelaja, a political analyst, said it was only in Nigeria that you find security operatives revealing their strategies. “Even if 50 terrorists are killed, it should not be a public knowledge.
“Such statements can only lead to reprisal attacks’’, Adelaja added.
It will be recalled that more than 200 girls were abducted in Chibok female secondary school on April 14 by persons suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect. (NAN)