The Kaduna State government has unveiled plans to merge 359 schools in response to escalating banditry and insecurity, which have led to numerous cases of abduction and kidnapping across the state.

Speaking at a stakeholders forum and the training session of the Schools’ Protection Squad, Governor Uba Sani, represented by his Chief of Staff, Sani Kila, emphasised the need for decisive measures to protect schools and children from bandit attacks.

The merger will involve consolidating schools in vulnerable communities with those located in safer areas.

Kila highlighted the significance of the newly launched School Protection Squad, part of the Federal Government’s Safe School Initiative, aimed at safeguarding educational institutions, children, and teachers from various forms of attacks orchestrated by bandits and terrorists.

Acknowledging Kaduna’s relentless battle against banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and other criminal activities, Kila expressed concern over the disruptive impact of non-state actors on socio-economic activities. He underscored the threat these activities pose to the state’s educational revitalisation programme.

The governor’s representative raised alarm over the crisis of declining school enrollment in Kaduna, citing a drastic drop of over 200,000 primary school pupils in the 2022/2023 academic session compared to the previous year.

This decline, he attributed primarily to insecurity, particularly in areas such as Chikun, Birnin Gwari, Kajuru, Giwa, and Igabi, where insecurity has forced school consolidation, exacerbating the number of out-of-school children.

Kila stressed the critical role of ensuring the safety and security of schools in achieving human capital development goals and sustainable development.

He lauded the Federal Government for launching the N144.8 billion safe schools financing plan and the establishment of the Schools Protection Squad, aimed at enhancing security and safety in educational institutions nationwide.

In addition to merging schools in conflict-prone areas with safer locations, the Kaduna State government is implementing various measures to strengthen school security, including fencing, establishment of security committees, deployment of vigilance services, provision of emergency lines, and security awareness training for staff and community members.

Kila expressed hope that the capacity-building programme would equip participants with the necessary skills to navigate challenging security situations and foster strategic communication to win the hearts and minds of citizens in conflict-affected communities.

He emphasised the importance of regular engagement between security forces and community leaders to enhance collaboration and trust-building efforts.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has unveiled the results of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), marking the culmination of a rigorous evaluation process for aspiring tertiary education students nationwide.

JAMB’s Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, announced during a press conference held at the board’s headquarters in Bwari, situated on the outskirts of Abuja.

The examination, spanning 118 towns and boasting over 700 centers across the nation, witnessed a remarkable participation of over 1.94 million candidates.

Commencing on Friday the 19th of April and concluding on Monday the 29th of April, the UTME saw 80,810 candidates absent out of the 1,989,668 registered.

A total of 1,904,189 candidates actively engaged in the six-day examination.

Oloyede disclosed, “Out of the 1,842,464 released results, a modest 0.4% attained scores exceeding 300, while 24% achieved 50% (200/400) and above.” He further revealed that 1,402,490 candidates, constituting 76% of the total, obtained scores below 200.

In emphasising JAMB’s stance on recognising top performers, Oloyede reiterated the board’s decision not to publicise the identity of the highest-scoring candidate.

“The Board has consistently reiterated its position against disclosing the names of top-performing candidates, viewing the UTME primarily as a ranking examination considering other pivotal factors determining the minimum admissible score for tertiary institution admissions,” he affirmed.

In the aftermath of the tragic killing of Iyanda Damilola, allegedly by a police officer during a nightclub altercation in Ogbomoso, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) has clarified that the victim was not a student of the institution.

Damilola, identified as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was reportedly shot dead during a fracas at a club in Ogbomoso on Monday.

Contrary to initial reports, LAUTECH’s Public Relations Officer, Akin Fadeyi, emphasized that the incident did not occur within the university premises.

“The incident occurred around 2 am. It did not occur in the institution. It happened in a club, and in LAUTECH, we don’t have a club or hotel,” stated Fadeyi during the institution’s 16th convocation ceremonies.

He further clarified, “They were fighting and the student who got killed was not our student. So, what happened had nothing to do with LAUTECH. It has nothing to do with our convocation.”

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command has taken action, detaining the officers involved in the incident. According to the command spokesman, Osifeso Adewale, the officers were dispatched to the nightclub to quell a disturbance during the party.

“The incident worsened, leading to the firing of ‘warning shots’ by the officers. This led to one death,” Osifeso stated in a Thursday statement.

The deceased’s brother, Oluwafemi Iyanda, a LAUTECH graduate, confirmed that the tragic event occurred after attending his convocation ceremony and heading to an after-party with his late sibling.

“All operatives involved in the incident including Inspr Rasheed Saheed are currently under detention at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku,” Osifeso added.