Alausa Orders Tertiary Institutions to Expel Students Found Guilty of Kidnapping
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Iwu Casmir
ABUJA — The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has directed all heads of tertiary institutions across Nigeria to immediately dismiss any student found guilty of involvement in kidnapping after due investigation and the completion of institutional disciplinary procedures.
The directive applies to vice-chancellors of universities, rectors of polytechnics, and provosts of colleges of education nationwide as part of the Federal Government's efforts to strengthen security within higher institutions and prevent campuses from becoming safe havens for criminal activities.
Dr. Alausa gave the directive in Abuja while addressing members of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Lafia. He stressed that institutions of higher learning must remain centres of academic excellence, character development and innovation, rather than breeding grounds for crime.
According to the minister, any student who plans, participates in or facilitates the kidnapping of fellow students or any other individual has forfeited the moral and academic privilege of remaining in a tertiary institution.
He maintained that while institutions must ensure fair hearing and proper investigation before disciplinary action is taken, students found culpable should be expelled without hesitation.
"The nation's campuses must not serve as sanctuaries for criminal elements. Students who engage in kidnapping or related criminal acts have no place in our higher institutions," the minister stated.
Beyond disciplinary measures, Dr. Alausa directed the leadership of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to strengthen internal intelligence and campus security mechanisms capable of detecting criminal activities before they escalate.
He urged school authorities to establish closer working relationships with the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies operating within their respective states to improve intelligence sharing and ensure the safety of students, staff and surrounding communities.
The minister noted that security should not be limited to campus premises alone but should also extend to student residences and off-campus environments where many undergraduates reside.
He explained that improved collaboration between educational institutions and security agencies would help prevent criminal infiltration, enhance emergency response and build confidence among students and parents.
The directive forms part of the Federal Government's broader strategy to improve safety within Nigeria's education sector amid growing concerns over insecurity and attacks affecting schools in different parts of the country.
In recent years, several tertiary institutions have experienced incidents of kidnapping, armed robbery and other security breaches, with students and staff becoming targets of criminal gangs. These incidents have raised concerns among stakeholders over the vulnerability of campuses and the need for stronger preventive measures.
Education and security experts have repeatedly advocated closer cooperation between school authorities and security agencies, alongside improved surveillance systems, student identification procedures and intelligence gathering to curb criminal activities within educational institutions.
The Federal Government has continued to emphasise that a secure learning environment remains essential to achieving quality education, attracting investment in the education sector and restoring public confidence in Nigeria's tertiary institutions.
Dr. Alausa reiterated that institutions must uphold discipline, protect innocent students and preserve the integrity of higher education by ensuring that criminal conduct is met with appropriate sanctions in accordance with established regulations.
The latest directive underscores the administration's determination to maintain Nigerian tertiary institutions as centres of learning, research and excellence where students can pursue their education in a safe and secure environment.
