Free education: Out-of-school children breeding insecurity, prostitution in Nigeria – Taraba rep contender

From Godwin Agia, Jalingo

A house of representative contender in the upcoming bye- election for Jalingo, Yorro and Zing federal constituency, Barr. Bilyaminu Lukman Maihanchi has alleged that the trend of out of school children was breeding insecurity and prostitution in Nigeria.
Maihanchi made the claim in Jalingo while reacting to governor Agbu Kefas’s declaration for free and compulsory basic education in Taraba said, criminals were taking advantage of the out of school children to recruit them into terrorism since they could not afford education and other life challenges.
He lamented that over 10.5 million Nigerian child were Out-of-school, while 60 per cent were the girl-child.
According to the human rights lawyer, the development was fast breeding insecurity and prostitution especially in the northern part of Nigeria where record has shown that, 8 million out of the over 10.5 million out-of-school children in the country were from the ten northern states of Nigeria with Taraba inclusive.
“I wish to commend governor Agbu Kefas for declaring free and compulsory basic education in Taraba. I wish to appeal to the federal government to also make WAEC and NECO free for Nigerians.
“The alarming rate of out-of-school children is contributing to the growing insecurity and prostitution in Nigeria so, I believe that the decision of governor Kefas in ensuring compulsory education in Taraba would tackle the growing rate of criminality in the state.
“Available statistics has shown that, Nigeria has over 10.5 million Out-of-school children with 60 per cent of that figure representing the girl-child while, 8 million are from 10 northern Nigeria state with Taraba inclusive.
“Education is key to tackling insecurity and developing the Nigeria society. I wish to state here that governor Kefas decision on education in Taraba is best for Nigerians.”