By John Dike, Osogbo
The member representing Ede North/EdeSouth/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, , has warned that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, particularly attacks targeting schools and students, should not be ignored simply because many public office holders have their children enrolled in private institutions or studying abroad.
Speaking during plenary at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Salam called for urgent and decisive measures to protect schools across the country, arguing that the lives of children from ordinary families deserve the same level of protection afforded to government officials and other privileged citizens.
The lawmaker’s remarks came amid growing concerns over attacks on educational institutions and the recent abduction incidents reported in parts of the country, including Oyo State.
Drawing from a popular Yoruba proverb to illustrate the unequal attention often given to victims of insecurity, Salam lamented that attacks affecting poor families frequently fail to attract the level of concern they deserve.
“There is a saying among the Yoruba people that if a lion enters a village and kills the children of the poor, there may be little noise or mourning. But the day the lion kills the king’s child, the entire city turns into a graveyard,” he said.
According to him, many political leaders and public office holders are insulated from the realities confronting ordinary Nigerians because their children attend expensive private schools or pursue their education outside the country.
“For reasons we all know, most of the children of those of us in leadership positions attend private schools. Some are studying outside the Republic of Nigeria because we can afford it.
But the children of labourers, teachers and other ordinary Nigerians attend public schools, and we cannot close our eyes to the dangers they face every day,” Salam stated.
He stressed that the security challenges confronting schools require a dedicated and specialised response from government, proposing the creation of a special security architecture focused exclusively on protecting educational institutions.
The federal lawmaker noted that several countries facing similar threats have adopted innovative approaches to safeguard students and teachers, urging Nigeria to draw lessons from such experiences.
Salam also recalled that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps once operated a school security programme but lamented that the initiative was never adequately funded to achieve its objectives.
“There was a time when the Civil Defence organisation had a school security system, but it was never properly funded throughout its existence,” he said.
He argued that securing schools across the federation is achievable if government demonstrates sufficient political will and commitment.
“I disagree with those who claim that all schools cannot be protected. If we can provide security for thousands of public office holders across Nigeria, then we can certainly protect the children of the poor who attend public schools and the teachers who educate them,” he added.
Reacting to the recent security incident in Oyo State, Salam called on relevant authorities to adopt a more proactive approach in addressing security threats and supporting victims.
He said government must reassure citizens through swift action and effective intervention to prevent insecurity from spreading further and to restore public confidence.
The lawmaker’s intervention adds to growing calls from stakeholders, civil society groups and education advocates for stronger measures to protect schools and ensure that learning environments remain safe for students and teachers across the country.
Observers say his remarks have reignited conversations about the widening gap between the experiences of ordinary Nigerians and those in positions of power, particularly in the areas of education and security.
As concerns over kidnappings, banditry and attacks on schools continue to mount, many Nigerians are expected to closely watch the government’s response to the proposal for a dedicated school security framework.
