Civilian JTF to provide security in Borno schools

The Borno state government said yesterday, that it planned to enlist the services of local vigilantes, called Civilian JTF, to provide security in public schools ahead of the November 17 re-opening date.

Public schools in the state are expected to re-open on today, Monday after being shut on March 16 due to security challenges.

The Chairman of the 19-man committee on the resuscitation of primary school education in the state, Dr Mohammed Dongel, said this in a meeting with education secretaries and headmasters of public schools in Maiduguri.

Dongel said the vigilantes had already been contacted to provide surveillance in all schools.

“The state government deemed it necessary to take precautionary measures in ensuring safety of pupils and teachers in public schools before the re-opening date.

“The vigilantes have been contacted to provide surveillance and security to teachers and pupils in all schools to prevent schools’ attack like what happened in Yobe state,” he said.

Dongel said perimeter fencing had also been provided in public schools to prevent security breach.

He added that food vendors in all schools would be thoroughly screened on daily basis to prevent any incident.

According to him, visitors will also be properly registered to prevent any attack on schools.

He said the state government had allocated two utility vehicles to the vigilantes to monitor activities in schools in Maiduguri and Jere local government areas of the state.

Dongel, however, stated that only four schools in Maiduguri, Konduga, Jere and Biu local government areas would be re-opened on Monday due to logistic reasons. (NAN)