The Peace Corps of Nigeria has raised fresh concerns over the growing wave of insecurity affecting educational institutions across the country, calling for stronger inter-agency collaboration and urgent federal action to address the escalating threats posed by banditry and school-related violence.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja, the National Commandant of the Corps, Ambassador Dickson Akoh, decried the continued invasion of schools by armed groups and the abduction of pupils and teachers for ransom. He described the trend as a dangerous development capable of undermining Nigeria’s educational system and long-term national development.
Amb Dickson Akoh noted that repeated attacks on learning environments not only disrupt academic activities but also create deep psychological trauma among students, teachers, and parents. According to him, the fear generated by such incidents could discourage parents from sending their children to school, thereby worsening the country’s already fragile educational outcomes.
He warned that if the situation is not urgently addressed, the persistent targeting of schools could erode confidence in the education sector and weaken efforts aimed at building a skilled and productive youth population.
The Peace Corps Commandant emphasised the need for a coordinated national response involving all relevant security and paramilitary agencies. He stated that the Peace Corps is fully prepared to collaborate with sister agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and other stakeholders in the security architecture.
According to him, such collaboration would strengthen intelligence gathering, improve rapid response mechanisms, and ensure better surveillance of vulnerable educational institutions across the country. He explained that Peace Corps personnel, if properly deployed and integrated into the national security framework, can play a critical role in monitoring school environments, identifying suspicious activities, and providing early warning reports to relevant authorities.
Amb Dickson Akoh further stressed that the Corps is strategically positioned to support community-based security efforts, particularly within schools and local communities where early detection of threats is crucial. He added that a structured presence of trained officers in educational institutions would help curb issues such as cultism, drug abuse, unauthorised access, and other related security challenges.
The Commandant also highlighted the importance of real-time intelligence sharing between the Peace Corps and conventional security agencies, noting that seamless communication channels would enable swift and coordinated responses to potential threats before they escalate into full-blown crises.
While reaffirming the Corps’ commitment to supporting national security efforts, Akoh renewed calls on the Federal Government to expedite action on the passage and signing of the Peace Corps of Nigeria Establishment Bill. He argued that legal backing would provide the organisation with the necessary framework to operate effectively, expand its capacity, and contribute more meaningfully to internal security management.
He maintained that formal recognition of the Peace Corps would not only strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture but also create additional manpower support in addressing insecurity, especially in vulnerable sectors such as education.
Amb Dickson Akoh urged the government to consider the strategic importance of the Corps in the current security climate, stressing that safeguarding schools is critical to protecting the future of Nigeria’s youth and ensuring sustainable national development.
