Security threats in tertiary institutions

In Nigeria, the terror attacks of Boko Haram represent the biggest insurgency this nation has faced since its independence in 1960. Among the targets of these attacks are some of the most vital national assets – institutions of learning – as many students, teachers and lecturers have died in these heinous attacks.Bayero University Kano, established […]

In Nigeria, the terror attacks of Boko Haram represent the biggest insurgency this nation has faced since its independence in 1960. Among the targets of these attacks are some of the most vital national assets – institutions of learning – as many students, teachers and lecturers have died in these heinous attacks.
Bayero University Kano, established in 1977 has had its share of this barbaric unleash, when in April 29th 2012 gunmen attacked, and at least 17 students were killed. A lecture theatre and a sport complex used by Christian worshippers at the old campus of the university were also attacked by gunmen.
Further, the attack on Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education and that of Kano School of Hygiene on 23rd June 2014 has left an impression of general state of insecurity.
Bayero University Kano is an exciting institution with a vibrant history and promising future, a wonderful place to learn and grow intellectually and academically. Bayero University possesses a wealth of academic experience combined with a great spirit and a commitment to excellence that clearly sets it apart from other universities in Nigeria.
The case of insecurity has been a major challenge to the university. The fear built in the minds of people in the institution has been a great one. Bayero University has at least 1060 staff and 37,747 students, and the university’s security unit has been making tremendous efforts towards the protection of lives and well being of these people.
In my opinion, the problem lies in the modus operandi of the security checks for both people and vehicles entering the university premises. A lot of students complain daily, especially those passing through the gate on foot that the manner in which their school bags are searched is humiliating, claiming that those with private cars are only checked via the boot of such cars.
Looking critically at the situation, students coming in school buses are asked to show their identification card before entering the buses, while others are not asked to do so. Some of the students trekking to the gate feel the checking conducted by security men at the gate is a form of humiliation.
The security department of the institution is striving hard to be the watch dog of the university community considering the insecurity that has befallen the northern part of Nigeria and the nation in general.
I don’t really think the checks done by security arm of the university are efficient or satisfactory because people believe that it is only the boot of private vehicles that are checked and as such, the drivers might bypass security men with something harmful beneath their car seats. Thus I believe a thorough examination and a complete search should be made of the private vehicles passing through the gate. And also, the students that follow the school bus should be checked properly.
Furthermore, students walking into the school should be accorded some respect while checking their school bags and items by the security guards.
The university authority should provide the security unit (department) with new security equipment such as scanners, analyzers, bomb dictators, CCTV cameras etc to assist the security personnel in achieving an efficient operation.
 I believe nobody is above the law, justice must not only be done, but seen to be done and allowed to take its course.

Hussaina is a 400 level student of Mass Communication at Bayero University Kano (BUK)