Unity schools: Reopening without measures puts students at risk – Security expert tells Nigerian govt
A security analyst, Amb. Capt. Abdullahi Bakoji Adamu (rtd), has warned that the Nigerian government’s decision to reopen the 47 Unity Colleges earlier closed due to security threats must be backed by concrete, long-term security measures, not official assurances alone.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with SOCIETY WATCH on Friday, Adamu said reopening the schools is a delicate but necessary policy choice.
He stressed that education remains a critical national asset that should not be disrupted for long periods.
“Education is too important to be sacrificed indefinitely. Prolonged closure of Unity Schools threatens national development, social cohesion, and youth stability,” he said.
He noted that from this perspective, the government’s decision to reopen the schools aligns with its constitutional responsibility to guarantee access to education.
However, the retired security expert cautioned that optimism must not override security realities.
“The original closure of these schools was based on real and credible threats such as kidnappings, banditry, and attacks on educational institutions. These threats have not disappeared; they have only evolved,” he warned.
According to him, reopening schools without addressing the root causes of insecurity would expose students, teachers, and parents to serious danger.
Security is not measured by announcements but by preparedness, deterrence, and response efficiency. If the reopening is based merely on assurances rather than verifiable security benchmarks, it risks repeating past tragedies and eroding public confidence,” he said.
From a professional security standpoint, he listed key conditions that must be met, including permanent security deployment around and within school premises, rather than temporary patrols.
“There must be integrated intelligence sharing between the military, police, DSS, and local security structures,” he said.
He added that intelligence gaps remain a major weakness.
Adamu also emphasized the need for rapid response capability.
“Response must be within minutes, not hours. Delayed response has cost lives in the past,” he noted.
