Federal Government orders expulsion of students involved in kidnapping

This directive, issued by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on Tuesday during a meeting with the governing council and management of the Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, is part of new measures to enhance security in tertiary institutions. The minister also instructed heads of institutions to strengthen internal intelligence networks and collaborate with the Department of State Services and other security agencies to prevent criminal activities. He emphasized that campuses must not become havens for criminals and that any student involved in kidnapping fellow students has no place in tertiary institutions.

Alausa reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s directive against negotiating with or paying ransom to kidnappers, stating that such actions embolden criminals. The Federal Government will support security enhancement projects in tertiary institutions through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund’s 2027 intervention program, including perimeter fencing and other critical security infrastructure. Plans to expand the Energising Education Programme in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Power were also reaffirmed, offering expanded solar power generation and battery storage to institutions needing additional electricity capacity.