Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal Government has issued a sweeping directive to all tertiary institutions across Nigeria, ordering the immediate dismissal of any student found guilty, after due investigation, of involvement in kidnapping or related criminal activities. The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, handed down the order on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, during a high-level meeting with the Pro-Chancellor, members of the Governing Council, and the Management of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) in Abuja, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah.
The directive, which applies to all Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts of Nigerian higher institutions, comes amid growing concerns that some students are allegedly participating in kidnapping operations outside their campuses. While noting that Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education remain largely safe, Alausa stressed that recent isolated incidents involving students off-campus underscored the need for stronger intelligence gathering and closer collaboration with security agencies. "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," the Minister declared.
Beyond the dismissal order, Alausa instructed heads of tertiary institutions to strengthen internal intelligence systems and deepen collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies as part of a nationwide strategy to safeguard campuses and protect students. He also disclosed that he recently held an extensive meeting with the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), to develop a coordinated strategy aimed at strengthening the Safe Schools Initiative and improving the protection of learners across the country. Reaffirming President Bola Tinubu's directive that no government institution should negotiate with or pay ransom to kidnappers, Alausa warned that yielding to criminal demands only emboldens criminal elements and undermines national efforts to combat insecurity.
The meeting, which lasted about two hours, also focused on infrastructure development, student welfare, and the Federal Government's ongoing higher education reforms. During the session, the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia, Hon. Lola Fibisola Akande, raised concerns over student accommodation, electricity supply at the university's second campus, and security challenges. She disclosed that some students were suspected to have links to kidnapping activities carried out off-campus, stressing that the university strongly opposed the payment of ransom to secure the release of abducted victims. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Isa Kida, also praised the minister's reforms and appealed for the extension of the Energising Education Programme to the institution's second campus, alongside additional office accommodation and increased staffing.
To further strengthen campus security, Alausa announced that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund's (TETFund) 2027 intervention programme would support security enhancement projects, including perimeter fencing and other critical security infrastructure in tertiary institutions. He encouraged eligible institutions to submit their requests early for consideration. The Minister also reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to expanding the Energising Education Programme in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power, explaining that institutions requiring additional electricity capacity could benefit from the expansion of existing solar infrastructure through increased generation and battery storage.
The directive marks a significant escalation in the government's response to the growing threat of kidnapping and criminality involving students. It comes on the heels of recent incidents that have raised alarms about the involvement of students in kidnapping syndicates, particularly in the North-Central region. The Federal University of Lafia, which was at the centre of the meeting, has been grappling with security challenges, including the recent abduction of students and allegations of student involvement in off-campus kidnapping activities. The government's zero-tolerance stance sends a clear message that tertiary institutions will no longer be allowed to serve as breeding grounds for crime, and that students who choose to engage in criminal activities will face the full consequences of their actions, including the loss of their academic futures.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments