The Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) has solicited the support of journalists in Nasarawa State towards tackling kidnapping, cultism, drug abuse and other criminal activities threatening the university community.
Prof. Mohammed Isa-Kida, Vice Chancellor (VC) of the university made the call during a media engagement for collaboration on Monday in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
The Vice Chancellor said the university decided to partner with the media because of the strategic role of journalists in information dissemination and public sensitisation.
He said the meeting was not a press briefing but a deliberate move to solicit support in the fight against incessant security challenges bedevilling the campus, staff and students.
“You will all agree with me that insecurity is bedevilling not only the university but the entire country, but the one that affects us is most severe when it has to deal with students.
“Imagine a child is writing his exams tomorrow morning and he is kidnapped and ransom demanded that not even the parents can raise,” he said.
Isa-Kida lamented that fear of insecurity was already affecting students’ enrollment, as admission numbers were dwindling, and stressed that the university has become easy prey for recruitment into criminal groups, drug peddling and cultism.
The VC said the university has already taken several measures including engaging over 200 vigilante members, hunters and volunteers on its payroll, and strengthening collaboration with the security agencies.
The Vice Chancellor added that the security agencies were not only patrolling the university community now, but were also responding promptly whenever they are informed about any security threats.
He noted that the renewed collaboration with the security agencies had seriously minimised the level of occurrence and the management wants to intensify efforts to address it completely if possible.
He outlined areas where the media could support the institution including security awareness campaigns through jingles, documentaries and news reports.
“Other areas are; campaigns for affordable accommodation for students in host communities, anti-drug education, responsible reporting to counter fake news, and early identification and reporting of emerging threats.
“The objective is to protect students and staff and create awareness against drug abuse, cultism, banditry and recruitment into criminal groups,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor therefore, called on the students to follow the security tips being provided by the institution to avoid being trapped and resist any attempt to recruit them into criminal gangs or cult groups.
He explained that anyone caught indulging in any criminality would be expelled and handed over to the security agencies for prosecution. (NAN).
