Addressing insecurity on School campuses

BY PRISCILLA CHRISTOPHER

Security, according to Wiktionary.org is the condition of  not being threatened, especially physically, psychologically, mentally, spiritually emotionally or financially by anybody or force. Issues of insecurity have often raised concern in troubled states and countries who have little or no provision for security. This is why some weak states/countries opt for support from nearby or stronger nations when it is necessary. The campus, being a unit of the larger society is also one place where insecurity is almost inevitable. Issues of cult clashes, disagreements between and among students and the school management, neighbouring disputes as well as strikes often challenge the security modalities of institutions.

Over the years, Nigerian campuses have experienced what would be termed consistent security challenges, owing to any or more of the above-mentioned factors. Yet, one cannot assert that such would not recur.
Research has shown that most of the security challenges encountered by institutions have their causes from within. This implies that a lot of security issues are brewed from within the campus. This is not debatable as it is not untrue that vices like cultism, extortion, high-handedness, disagreements and the likes emanate from carelessness, poor management and indiscipline on the parts of students, lecturers and the management.
Although these issues are common to almost all higher institutions of learning, other threats to security are peculiar to some institutions. For instance in the University of Uyo, a particular threat to security which raises the concern of right-thinking individuals is the Mosque erected at the tail end of the main entrance which allows muslim faithfuls within and outside the school vicinity to commune in worship.
While this- the erecting of the Mosque is not in anyway condemned or damned, the coming-in of total strangers from God-knows-where, with no database and no verifiable proof of ownership is scaring. From the way they push their way through the pedestrian gate; rubbing their bodies on others, to the way they walk clad in an overall garment and communicating in a language no one understands; the external worshippers are much too fearful to be identified with on campus in an era of suicide bombings, attacks and insurgencies as this. And bearing in mind too that crisis could steam from within the school confines; peradventure anything happens at their time of presence on campus, how would the school authority account for them? Would they not go wanton themselves?
As far as control in times of crisis is concerned, no school management can adequately account for the number of students in its enclave. No matter how much they try, a number of students still fall victims of attack and killings. If the school then cannot guarantee absolute security for its students in turbulent times, how much more strangers without any affiliation with the school?
And if one may ask, what benefit does the University of Uyo stand to gain from this invasion of the school premises every Friday? Is it possible that a financial benefit is involved? This may, or not be the case but what should be considered now is the effect of this norm on the security of the school and this should not be staked on the altar of selfishness and covetousness.
Perhaps a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the school but even at that, a better location could be arranged (courtesy of the school) to site the Mosque. Anything worth doing is worth doing well. This is not an exception. The school authority should seek a means of relocating the mosque off-campus to forestall any security challenge and to allow the worshippers enough freedom to exercise their rights, duties and obligations.
The Federal and State governments should as well see to the presence of similar structures in their higher institutions and work towards relocating them for safety reasons.
Should havoc come upon these external worshippers while carrying out their obligation on our campuses, only God knows what their brethren ‘out there’ would do. It would be better imagined than experienced. A stitch in time they say, saves nine and a word as well, is enough for the wise.