General News
Despite ₦144.86bn Safe School Fund, terrorists threatens education under Tinubu – Atiku
Nkem Okereh
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has described reports that schools across about 40 local government areas have been shut because of insecurity as a damning indictment of the Tinubu administration’s failure to protect Nigerian children and guarantee their right to education.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the development raises serious questions about the ₦144.86 billion National Plan on Financing Safe Schools for 2023–2026, particularly when the schools the programme was designed to protect are still being forced to close because of terrorists, bandits and other armed groups.
The Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) said “at a time when Nigeria is already battling a severe out-of-school crisis, insecurity is driving even more children from the classroom. If schools across about 40 local government areas cannot operate because government cannot guarantee the safety of pupils and teachers, Nigerians are entitled to ask a simple question: where is the ₦144.86 billion Safe Schools programme in all of this?
“Budgeting money is not the same thing as securing schools. Announcing programmes is not the same thing as protecting children. The true measure of a Safe Schools programme is whether our children can actually go to school safely. By that elementary test, the present approach is failing.”
Atiku demanded that the Tinubu administration publish a comprehensive account of the programme, including how much has been mobilised and released, the agencies and contractors that received funds, the schools covered, security infrastructure delivered and measurable outcomes achieved.
He warned, however, that accounting for the money alone would not solve the deeper problem.
“What Nigeria requires is a completely different security philosophy. Under my administration, school security will not be treated as another Abuja contract-awarding programme. It will be integrated into a decentralised, intelligence-led security architecture built around the communities where these schools actually exist.
“We will establish functional early-warning and rapid-response systems around vulnerable schools, strengthen intelligence sharing between schools, communities and security agencies, and ensure that identified high-risk schools have clearly defined security and emergency-response plans.
“Local communities know their terrain. They know when unfamiliar people enter their communities and often see the warning signs before Abuja does. Our security architecture will make that local intelligence part of the national response rather than leaving communities helpless until an attack has already occurred.
“We will also insist on measurable outcomes for every naira committed to school security. Nigerians will know which schools have been protected, what infrastructure has been provided, who is responsible for maintaining it and which security formations are accountable for responding when threats arise.
“Safe Schools will be measured by children in classrooms, not billions in government documents.”
Atiku said the consequences of allowing insecurity to empty classrooms extend far beyond education.
“Every school that closes creates another opening for poverty, child labour, early marriage, exploitation and radicalisation. Every child driven from the classroom becomes more vulnerable to the same criminal and extremist networks the government claims to be fighting. Protecting education is therefore itself a national security strategy.”
He said it was indefensible that Nigeria, after repeated attacks and abductions involving educational institutions, could commit enormous resources to a Safe Schools programme and still reach the end of its implementation period with armed groups determining whether schools open or close.
Atiku said the situation in Borno makes the failure even more intolerable. Reports indicate that 36 students and a staff member of Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area were abducted by gunmen during examinations in late June, while 42 pupils reportedly remain missing following the May 15 attack in Mussa.
“When terrorists can decide whether Nigerian children go to school, they are exercising authority that belongs to the Nigerian state. That is not merely an education crisis. It is a surrender of state authority.
“And since Mr President says his government knows the forests where these kidnappers and terrorists operate, Nigerians are entitled to ask: what exactly are they still doing there?
“Mr President should detail his security forces to those forests, rescue these children, and bring their abductors to justice. Intelligence that tells the government where terrorists are hiding but does not result in their capture or the rescue of their victims is of little comfort to parents whose children remain in captivity.
“These are not statistics. They are Nigerian children who should be sitting in classrooms, writing examinations, and planning their futures—not names on an endless list of the missing. Every additional day they remain in captivity is another indictment of a government that claims to know where the criminals are but has yet to bring the children home.
“Nigerians do not need another assurance that the government knows where the terrorists are. They want to know why the terrorists are still there—and why our children are still with them.”
Atiku said his approach would be fundamentally different: school security would be connected to a broader decentralisation of Nigeria’s security architecture, with communities incorporated into intelligence gathering and clearly defined rapid-response mechanisms activated when threats are detected.
“Our alternative is straightforward: secure the communities, empower local intelligence, protect vulnerable schools, respond rapidly to threats, measure results, and account for every naira.
“President Tinubu must also account for the ₦144.86 billion and explain why, after all the announcements and appropriations, Nigerian parents are still being forced to choose between educating their children and keeping them alive.
“A government can not announce billions for Safe Schools and expect Nigerians to applaud their failure while terrorists are shutting the schools. Budgetary allocations are not achievements. Press conferences do not protect children. The only result that matters is that a Nigerian child can leave home for school and return safely.
“Nigeria cannot educate its way out of poverty if terrorists are allowed to lock the classroom door. Under our government, criminals will not determine when Nigerian schools open.
The Nigerian government shall.” It promised.
By Omoniye Ahire
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Delta State Command, has charged private security practitioners under ALPSPN across Delta State to uphold high standards of professionalism and strict adherence to regulatory standards in the discharge of their duties.
The State Commandant, Chibedu Igbo delivered this charge during an interactive stakeholders’ meeting with the leadership and members of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), Delta State Chapter, at the Command Headquarters in Asaba.
Addressing the security practitioners, Commandant Chinedu emphasized that private guard companies play a vital role in complementing the efforts of conventional security agencies in maintaining law and order, safeguarding life and property, and protecting critical national assets across the state.
To ensure effective operational synergy and maintain industry standards, the Commandant highlighted several key mandates and operational guidelines which includes but not limited to the following:
He said that all private guard companies (PGCs) operating within Delta State must ensure full renewal of operational licenses, complete registration, and regular audit of their personnel database, and warmed that any unlicensed PGC operating under invalid permits will not be tolerated.
He used the occasion to inform security operators on the plans to conduct thorough background checks and biometric profiling of all managers, guards and prospective guards prior to mitigate internal security breaches.
On intelligence sharing, Commander Igbo urged ALPSPN members to use communication channels for timely intelligence reporting to the NSCDC, enabling swift proactive measures against criminal activities.
He advised private security firms to prioritize regular training programs in conflict resolution, crowd control, and emergency response for their field personnel.
He also clarified all matters on branch operations of PGCs, applicable fees and issues on Notification of Change of Directors.
Commandant Igbo reiterated the Command’s zero-tolerance stance for unregistered and illegal private security outfits, warning that intelligence operations will commence soonest to identify, seal off, and prosecute defaulting operators in accordance with the Private Guard Companies Act.
In response, the Chairman of ALPSPN Delta State Chapter, Prof. Emmanus Odikaesieme expressed appreciation to the NSCDC for its continuous oversight, guidance, and support, assuring the State Commandant of their unwavering commitment to professionalism, regulatory adherence, and strategic partnership to ensure maximum security across Delta State.
In his remarks, the head of PGC Department (Domestic Security Services) DCC E.E Peters urged the practitioners to look into the general welfare of their guards especially Remuneration which is not expected to be less than minimum wage and uniforms. He hinted that, having been briefed by the regulator (NSCDC) Enforcement drive will commence soonest.
The family of retired Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Frederick Ichako Omunu has announced that he will be laid to rest on Thursday, December 17, 2026, in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, following his death at the age of 83.
The burial programme, jointly announced by the Omunu family of Uruto Quarters and the Omoba family of Urude Quarters, will feature a vigil Mass on December 16 and a funeral Mass on December 17 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ozoro.
Retired ACP Frederick Ichako Omunu died in 2026 at the age of 83.
His burial is scheduled for December 17 in Ozoro, Delta State.
A vigil Mass will hold on December 16 at 4:00 p.m.
The funeral Mass is scheduled for December 17 at 10:00 a.m.
The deceased will be buried at his residence on Uruto Road, Ozoro.
The family has invited relatives, friends and well-wishers to the funeral ceremonies.
According to the funeral announcement, the vigil Mass will take place at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 16, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, NDC Road, Ozoro.
On Thursday, December 17, the deceased’s body will leave General Hospital, Ozoro, at 7:30 a.m., with a brief stopover at his family compound.
The funeral Mass will follow at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, along NDC Road, Ozoro.
Omunu to Be Buried at His Ozoro Residence
Following the funeral Mass, Omunu will be laid to rest at his residence at No. 80 Uruto Road, Uruto Quarters, Ozoro. The family stated that the interment ceremony would be restricted to family members.
A reception for guests will subsequently hold at the field of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, along NDC Road, Ozoro.
The family described the deceased as a father, grandfather, brother and uncle, inviting relatives, friends and well-wishers to join them in honouring his memory.
The burial announcement was signed by family representatives Henry Omunu, Editor, Trumpet Newspaper and Benedict Omunu.
By Our Reporter
Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family has announced.
The family disclosed his death in a statement published on the actor’s official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday.
“We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness,” the post reads.
“We appreciate your prayers, love, and understanding. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.”
Duru’s death comes months after he dismissed reports circulating on social media that he was battling a life-threatening illness.
The rumours intensified in June after a video showing the actor looking frail went viral, prompting concerns among fans and colleagues in the entertainment industry.
Responding to the speculation at the time, Duru released a video on Instagram in which he described the footage as “fabricated and malicious”.
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru completed his primary and secondary education in the Central African country before moving to Nigeria for university education.
He gained admission to the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he studied Theatre Arts and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
Duru began his acting career in 1989 when he featured in Missing Mark, a film directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko. However, the role did not immediately establish him as a prominent figure in the Nigerian movie industry.
His breakthrough came in 1995 following his appearance in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe. In the film, he played the character Ahanna, a role that helped raise his profile in Nollywood.
Throughout his career, Duru earned several awards and honours in recognition of his contributions to the entertainment industry.
He was named a United Nations ambassador of peace for his positive influence on young people.
In 2020, he won the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Mboputa.
Beyond his acting career, Duru was married to Adokiye, whom he wed in 2003. Their union produced four children.
The family suffered a major loss in August 2024 when one of their children, Ifeanyi, died.
Duru’s death marks the loss of an actor whose career spanned several decades in Nigeria’s film industry.
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