Education Minister Orders Universities To Expel Students Involved In Kidnapping

The Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, has directed vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts across Nigeria to dismiss any student found guilty of kidnapping or related crimes after due investigation, as part of efforts to strengthen security on tertiary institution campuses.

Alausa gave the directive during a meeting with the Governing Council and management of the Federal University of Lafia in Abuja, where discussions centred on campus security, infrastructure and student welfare.

The minister also instructed heads of tertiary institutions to strengthen internal intelligence systems and deepen collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to prevent criminal activities on and around campuses.

“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,” Alausa said.

While noting that universities, polytechnics and colleges of education remain largely safe, the minister said recent isolated incidents involving students outside campuses highlighted the need for stronger intelligence gathering.

“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,” he said.

Alausa disclosed that he had recently met with the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, to develop a coordinated strategy for strengthening the Safe Schools Initiative nationwide.

He also reiterated the Federal Government’s policy against negotiating with or paying ransom to kidnappers.

“Yielding to criminal demands only emboldens criminal elements and undermines national efforts to combat insecurity,” he said.

On infrastructure, the minister said the Federal Government would support security enhancement projects in tertiary institutions through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) 2027 intervention programme, including perimeter fencing and other security facilities.

He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding the Energising Education Programme in partnership with the Ministry of Power to improve electricity supply in higher institutions through additional solar generation and battery storage.

During the meeting, the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia, Adebimpe Adebajo, raised concerns over student accommodation, electricity supply and insecurity, alleging that some students were suspected of involvement in kidnappings carried out off campus. She said the university opposed the payment of ransom, warning that it would encourage criminality.

Vice-Chancellor Mohammed Isa Kida appealed for the extension of the Energising Education Programme to the university’s second campus and requested additional office accommodation and staffing to improve teaching, research and administration.

In response, Alausa advised the institution to submit formal requests under the relevant intervention programmes, assuring the university that projects meeting government requirements would receive due consideration.