The Nigeria Police Force has announced its intention to deploy more officers to university campuses all over the country, ostensibly as a rider to yesterday’s Federal Government order that lecturers in federal universities should resume their jobs by 4th December 2013 else their offices would be declared vacant and advertised.
According to Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, who was speaking through Public Relations Officer of the Force, Mr. Frank Mba, the move is to guarantee the protection of students and staff upon resumption.
“This is designed to help secure life and property in the Ivory Towers and provide enabling environment for lecturers, students, academic and non-academic staff to go about their lawful businesses without let or hindrance,” Mba wrote in the statement.
“This directive is a proactive and confidence-boosting measure designed to ensure that nothing untoward happens in the academic communities. All Command Commissioners of Police are directed to personally oversee the intensification of surveillance activities around universities within their State Commands”.
Mba added that the police commissioners will also be required to take all necessary security measures needed to provide for the safety and security of staff and students, as well as properties within the various campuses.
He urged lecturers, students and all Nigerians within the Institutions to remain law-abiding but prosecute their legitimate businesses without fear of molestation or intimidation.
Meanwhile, leading officers of the Academic Union of Universities (ASUU) have since described the government move as an “empty-basket” threat that will fail as woefully as it did during the military era.
