Boko Haram: Nigerian Police to commence threat analysis on boarding schools

Nnenna Ibeh

Published: May 20,2014

Abubakar Shekau, self aclaimed Boko Harm leader

Mr. Mba said the result of the exercise will help reduce the vulnerability of schools across Nigeria.
The Nigerian Police on Tuesday said it will commence threat analysis and security audit in all boarding schools.
The exercise, which was ordered by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, will help strengthen security network around boarding schools in Nigeria.
Nigeria has hundreds of boarding schools across the country owned by federal and state governments as well as private individuals and organisations.
A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the outcome of this exercise will greatly assist police authorities and other security agencies in the task of designing security strategies that will help in promoting safety and security in the schools.
The announcement comes days after two male boarding schools in Benue State received threat letters purportedly from members of the Boko Haram sect.
In the letter, the group had threatened to attack the schools on Monday and kidnap some of the students. The Benue police subsequently beefed up security around the schools and other boarding schools in the state; and no such attack occurred.
The announcement by the Nigerian police chief also comes over one month after over 250 girls were abducted by Boko Haram terrorist group Chibok, Borno State.
The girls were abducted from their school dormitory in Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State on April 14.
The girls’ abduction has gained global attention with United States, United Kingdom and other countries offering assistance to Nigeria in an attempt to rescue the girls.
Mr. Mba said the result of the exercise will help reduce the vulnerability of schools across Nigeria.
With this new order, Commissioners of Police are expected to work in conjunction with other security agencies, the state Ministry of Education in Nigeria, the management and staff schools, Parents Teachers Association, PTA, the host communities and other stakeholders to obtain the most reliable intelligence.
Mr. Mba said the police boss also reassured Nigerians that the police along with other security forces will remain committed to their mandate of protecting the lives and property of all citizens, at all places and at all times.