Experts Urge Security Overhaul After 2,000 Abductions

Following the abduction of approximately 2,000 students and teachers in Nigeria, experts are demanding a comprehensive overhaul of the country's security framework. The Safe Schools Initiative was established in 2014 and took effect in 2015, aiming to secure learning environments.

Despite this, mass kidnappings have persisted, including the abduction of 110 schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe State, in 2018 by the Islamic State West Africa Province. Other significant incidents include the kidnapping of 303 students in Kankara, Katsina State, in December 2020, and various attacks across northern and central Nigeria, with recent incidents reported in Zamfara and Kaduna states.

The Nigerian government has allocated N82 billion for security measures from 2023 to 2026, with specific earmarks for various security agencies. Former Assistant Inspector General of Police, Wilson Inalegwu, has called for an intelligence-driven approach to security, emphasizing the need for better coordination among security agencies and local authorities to prevent future attacks.