Writing By Daniel Karlmax; Editing By Godwin Duru
The safety and security of school children require a deliberate and coordinated approach involving families, communities, and government to ensure adequate protection across the country.
This assertion was made by Kaduna-based humanitarian advocate, Mr. Daniel Owoicho James, during an interview with Newsmen in Kaduna following the recent unsuccessful kidnapping attempt at an undisclosed school in kaduna.
He noted that children are particularly vulnerable during school closing hours, stressing the urgent need for critical and effective security measures to guarantee their safety.
The humanitarian advocate emphasized that school owners and administrators have a major responsibility to strengthen internal security systems within their institutions, ensuring that no child is released to anyone other than properly identified and authorized parents or guardians.
According to him, it is not enough to assume that schools alone can guarantee safety, stressing that parents must cooperate fully with school security procedures and ensure that only trusted and officially registered individuals are permitted to pick up their children.
“Constant communication between parents and school authorities is essential in preventing avoidable security breaches,” Mr. Owoicho stated.
Beyond the school environment, Daniel Owoicho James explained that communities must become more vigilant and proactive in intelligence gathering, pointing out that security cannot be left solely in the hands of formal agencies.
“It must begin at the grassroots level. When communities are alert and united, suspicious movements and unusual behavior can be quickly identified and reported before harm occurs,” he said.
He further called on both state and federal governments to develop functional local and community security bases that cut across all strata of society, bringing together traditional leaders, youth groups, women leaders, religious institutions, and security agencies.
Mr. Owoicho noted that community-based intelligence is often more effective because residents understand their environment better than anyone else.
“They can easily detect strangers, irregular patterns, and unfamiliar activities. When such local knowledge is properly organized and supported by government institutions, it becomes a powerful tool in combating crime.
He also identified as a pressing concern the practice of unknown individuals renting homes within communities without proper accountability.
While communities should remain welcoming, he stressed that they must prioritize safety, as criminal elements sometimes exploit anonymity to carry out unlawful activities, including kidnapping, before disappearing without a trace.
According to him, communities should introduce responsible tenancy measures requiring new tenants to provide credible identification and present a guarantor who is known and trusted within the community.
“Such a guarantor should be accountable to community and traditional leaders, ensuring that there is a traceable link between new residents and the existing social structure,” he explained.
Mr. Owoicho further urged government authorities to support these local initiatives with clear policies and effective oversight.
Strengthening child protection laws, improving collaboration between local vigilante groups and formal security agencies, and investing in modern communication infrastructure, he said, would further enhance security outcomes.
He concluded that achieving meaningful protection for school children requires unity, vigilance, and sustained commitment from schools, parents, communities, and government institutions.
Daniel Karlmax
