The federal government has been advised to as a matter of urgency license security outfits guarding Universities campuses nationwide to carry arms for the adequate protection of both human and material resources within the institutions.
The National President, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Muhammed Ibrahim suggested this why briefing newsmen during the union’s regular zonal executive council (ZEC) meeting at the Ugbowo campus of the University of Benin, Edo State.
He said, with the current security situation bedevilling the nation, the government is expected to quickly develop plans to retrain universities security personnel on arms handling as that may presently be the only option for the safety of both academic, non-academic staff as well as students while on campus.
He said carrying of arms by security men was becoming inevitable on campuses as that could be the only way to deny the hoodlums access to schools to unleash mayhem.
“The federal government should give legal backing for our security officers to carry arms in case of an attack.
We are saying this because our community as Universities is no longer safe to move around the campuses and even those staying outside have similar issues, our security outfit is managed either by ex-army or police officers so they are not new to these tactics but we are handicapped.
“You see the way these criminals come into our campuses kidnapping our members and collecting ransom very freely undeterred, it is alarming.
While declaring the meeting open, Prof Mrs Lilian Salami, vice Chancellor, University of Benin, enjoyed the union members to continue providing support to her leadership which is keen on transforming the institution.
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