Nigeria orders universities to expel students involved in kidnapping

Nigerian universities must immediately expel any student found guilty of kidnapping or related crimes, Education Minister Tunji Alausa declared Tuesday. He stressed that campuses should not serve as havens for criminals, emphasizing the need for robust internal intelligence and collaboration with security agencies.

Alausa issued the directive during a meeting with the Federal University of Lafia's leadership in Abuja. He warned that institutions tolerating misconduct risk entrenching it as a culture. "Any student found culpable, after due investigation, of planning or participating in the kidnapping of fellow students has no place in our tertiary institutions," he stated. "Such individuals must be dismissed."

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Any student found culpable, after due investigation, of planning or participating in the kidnapping of fellow students has no place in our tertiary institutions. Such individuals must be dismissed. Our campuses must never become safe havens for criminal elements.

The minister acknowledged that while Nigerian campuses are largely safe, isolated incidents outside require enhanced intelligence and coordinated security. He highlighted a collective responsibility to protect students, both on and off campus. Alausa also mentioned recent strategic discussions with the Defense Minister to bolster the Safe Schools Initiative nationwide.

Reiterating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's policy against ransom payments, Alausa cautioned that such negotiations embolden criminal networks. To bolster campus security, he announced that TETFund's 2027 intervention program will fund security infrastructure projects, including perimeter fencing, in tertiary institutions. He urged institutions to submit their requests promptly.

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We have a collective responsibility to protect every Nigerian child, from primary school to tertiary education. While our campuses remain safe, we must continue to strengthen intelligence gathering and work closely with our security agencies to ensure that students are protected both within and outside our institutions.