[size=13pt]Universities tighten up security as Boko Haram panic spreads[/size]

Security has been beefed up in tertiary institutions across the nation following last Monday’s threat by the Boko Haram sect to attack 19 higher institutions of learning in different parts of the country, SUNDAY PUNCH has learnt.


The threat which was said to have been issued via email reportedly mentioned the University of Benin as a prime target.


A copy of the mail which was sent through bokoharamewe@yahoo.com to the Registrar of UNIBEN said with regard to the eradication of western education in Nigeria, the university had been shortlisted among the other 19 universities that would experience a series of bomb blasts.


It read, “Please, this is not a threat, it is an instruction and should be strictly adhered to. This exercise shall kick-off from 12th of September to the 17th in any of the days. May Allah bless us.”


Our correspondents report that shortly after the mail became public, other institutions of higher learning gripped by the Boko Haram scare tightened their security system, while some requested military and police presence on their campuses.


Already, the National Association of Nigerian Students has urged the Federal Government to provide adequate security on campuses nationwide.


An email signed by NANS President, Mr Dauda Mohammed, said the FG must not take the terrorism threat by Boko Haram, with levity.


FUTA, Adekunle AjasiN varsity


The Federal University of Technology, Akure, has alerted the authorities of the 323 Artillery Brigade of the Owena Military Barracks and the Ondo State Police Command to the security threats posed by the Boko Haram sect.


The spokesperson of the University, Mr. Omololu Adegbenro, said, “We have put necessary measures in place to safeguard the lives and properties of our students and staff. There is no way we can take chances. We are on top of the situation. There is no cause for alarm.”


Also, the Public Relations Officer of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba -Akoko, Mr. Sola Imoru, said since students of the institutions were in session, the authorities did not want to make public any arrangement that would scare them.


He, however, said the authorities had put thorough proactive measures in place to enlighten the students and members of staff on the need to employ personal security.


UNIPORT


SECURITY has been tightened up at the University of Port Harcourt, President Goodluck Jonathan’s alma mater as a result of the recent Boko Haram threat to tertiary institutions.


UNIPORT’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Williams Wodi, explained that both visible and invisible security measures had been put in place to forestall any bomb attack on the institution.


Speaking in a telephone interview with SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday, Wodi said the visible security measures put in place by the university included the suspension of night activities in the school, prevention of vehicles to park 200 metres close to the campus and the compulsory frisking of people coming into the school.


Wodi said the school was always in contact with security agents and Alsatian dogs had been bought to help guard the university premises.


He said, “The President attended UNIPORT and we noticed that we are number five on the list of institutions Boko Haram wants to destroy.


“But the truth is that the students are not scared, they are at alert. If these Boko Haram members don’t want education, then they should stay away from it.”


UNIZIK, OKOPOLY


The authorities of tertiary institutions in Anambra State have stepped up their security to forestall any attempt by the Boko Harm sect to infiltrate their campuses by terrorist groups.


Though everywhere appeared calm on Friday, the spokesmen for the two institutions told SUNDAY PUNCH that they were not leaving anything to chance.


The Director of Information and Public Relations of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, said, “The University is peaceful. But we have been taking necessary measures to check any security threat.”


The Public Relations Officer of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Mr. Obini Onuchukwu, said the management of the polytechnic would ensure that every student was monitored.


“Our anti-cult organisation has ensured that even the students that were cult members renounce their activities. Oko is a peaceful area. But we are not leaving anything to chance,” he said.


On its part, the Anambra State police Command have also taken measures to check terrorist attacks. The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, said the Commissioner of Police had ordered that all abandoned vehicles be removed from police stations


UNIUYO


The Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State Command, Mr. Onyeka Orji, has said the police are fully prepared against attacks by Boko Haram in any of the higher institutions in the state.


He said, “We are already partnering with the higher institutions to ensure that they are security conscious. We have our intelligence units in place so that no disaster happens in the state.”


A senior staff of the university, who craved anonymity, said the school had been strategising and putting all its security operatives on the red alert against a possible attack by the dreaded Boko Haram sect.


UNIABUJA


The management of the University of Abuja is also not taking things lightly as it has put in place appropriate security measures to protect lives and property, said the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Waziri Garba.


He said the authorities had met to discuss the threat by the Boko Haram.


“We are aware of the threat to the universities and the school management has met with the student affairs department and the student union. I can’t reveal the security measures that are being put in place, but we intend to embark on a public enlightenment campaign in addition to whatever security measures that are being taken,” he said


UNIILORIN, KWARAPOLY


Students and workers of Kwara State tertiary institutions have said they are not afraid of the Boko Haram but appealed to the authorities of the institutions, federal and state governments, to take proactive measures to forestall any attack in any of the institutions.


The Public Relations Officer, Kwara State Polytechnic, Mr. Yunus Abdulkadir, said, “We do not have any fear although the school is on vacation. Our security men are in charge. We do not even think of it at all. We have taken proactive measures against any possible attack.”


The Deputy Director, Information, UNILORIN, Dr. Mahfouz Adedimeji, also said, “The university is doubling its partnership with the security agencies, hoping that its security internal, external and divine layers of security, will not fail. The community would be safe from all enemies.”


DELSU, DELPOLY


In Delta State, our correspondent gathered that the feeling of students is that of defiance and anger, rather than fear.


A 400 level student of Accounting of the institution who identified herself as Becky Ovozuorie, said, “Destroying the nation’s ivory towers is an act of cowardice. Disputes are not settled by reckless killing and maiming of scores of defenceless people.


Also at the Delta State Polytechnic, the feeling was the same. A student, Obaro Oghenekaro, told our correspondent that keeping the fear of the sect at heart was capable of ‘’killing one slowly.” He called on the security agencies to tackle the menace head-on.


Ekiti varsity


The authorities of the Ekiti State University (formerly known as UNAD) have said that there is no threat of Boko Haram sect against the university.


The Public Relations Officer of the EKSU, Mr. Ajibade Olubunmi, said, “There is no Boko haram threat against Ekiti State University. I think the sect threatened two universities but we are not their target. Our security personnel have always been at alert.”


Our correspondent observed the heavy presence of security personnel along Ado-Ekiti- Iworoko Road where the university is located. Police and other secutity personnel were seen patrolling the road.


UNAB, MOPOLY


The Public Relations Officer of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Mr. Sam Oyeleye, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone said the varsity was not apprehensive of any attack.


He said, “We do not have our environment charged. And we are sure that our students are not showing anxiety over the Boko Haram issue.”


He, however, did not disclose whether the school authorities would beef up security to forestall any attack.


At the Moshood Abiola Polytechic, Ojere, Ogun State, our correspondent learnt that security men were only drafted to the school last Thursday to ensure the peaceful conduct of the Students’ Union elections.


UNILAG


There was calm at the campus of the University of Lagos, with students and staff engaged in various activities normally. A cross-section of students said they were not afraid of Boko Haram’s threat.


When reached on the phone, the Deputy Registrar, Information, of the university, Mr. Dare Seth, said he was not authorised to speak on the matter. He said information on what the institution was doing to secure its campus in the light of the threat of the Boko Haram sect could only be obtained at the information centre or office of the registrar.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201109182521248

And this is coming after president Jonathan Goodluck made available federal resources for Obasanjo's trip to appease the terrorists?? WOW~~ Obasanjo's visit must have worked wonders! 

That email could be a prank by some students to cause unnecessary panic. My guess is if the email is traced, it would be found that it was sent from a cybercafe in Benin City.

The reason for the prank may be either plain mischief or to stir up more hatred and bloodbath in the south.

This is one of the things that cause panic in every home where parents have been calling their son and daughter to leave their schools which can disrupt academic calender for this session.I pray that all those that behind this politics should realize that unstable political environment bring about economic hardship which can affect all of us either HAUSA,IGBO OR YORUBA.LET US LEAVE IN PEACE AND ENJOY THE BLESSING OF GOD.

Today is past 17th and still no bombing. So wat do we take of that?

efisher:

That email could be a prank by some students to cause unnecessary panic. My guess is if the email is traced, it would be found that it was sent from a cybercafe in Benin City.

The reason for the prank may be either plain mischief or to stir up more hatred and bloodbath in the south.

My thots exactly. Does an armed robber say when he or she will be coming?No. If boko H really wants to bomb some universities, they won't be alerting you.

If dis wer truly a threat,den d bh boiz r waiting for al to let their guard down b4 dey strike. I smh at d level of technological lag in nigeria, d said email is a product of technology n dis exactly wer tech comes bac in.as we have allowed a total brain drain in d society and r too dumb to put 2 n 2 together,maybe d brits-or d americans dis tym-shld com re-colonize us n show us how its done!

Nigeria has been on 'high alert' since the very beginning, yet the bombings have continued. So what is with this idea that when people are prepared, it will not happen? Are you all not privy to the happenings of the past couple of months?

Abeg make una take am easy with this bomb scare thing. Next thing u know, they will be telling us to avoid public place like the gallaria and cinemas and fastfoods on oct 1.

bh should attack the schools in the north and leave the south for us. them we 'll know that they are serious. if they attack southern schools that means they are fighting the south and not Nigeria govt.

Bloody lie! I swear this email is not from the Yusufiyya sect. One thing is these people dont even like the name Boko Haram. They called themselves 'Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lid da'awati wal Jihad'. Even in their website (http://www.yusufislamicbrothers..com) u'll never see the phrase 'Boko Haram'. But just look at this so-called email address bokoharamwe@yahoo.com. Boko Haram never bomb any Northern University (including University of Maiduguri, their HQ).

Zarian5:

Bloody lie! I swear this email is not from the Yusufiyya sect. One thing is these people dont even like the name Boko Haram. They called themselves 'Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lid da'awati wal Jihad'. Even in their website (http://www.yusufislamicbrothers..com) u'll never see the phrase 'Boko Haram'. But just look at this so-called email address bokoharamwe@yahoo.com. Boko Haram never bomb any Northern University (including University of Maiduguri, their HQ).

Hmm. i'm suspecting o. U rily knw dem so well. Well enuf 2swear? U sure sey u no belong?

Why the 'ewe' in d email adress after boko haram, sounds like scam to me.I guess dis Boko haram guys are heartless enuf not to pre warn U and give U dates.

IF THEY REALY WANT TO DO ANYTHING FOR NOW, DO THEY REALLY NEED TO ALART ANYONE, THE EMAIL THAT WAS SENT MAY JUST BE FROM SOMEONE, LIKE U & I OR IT MAY BE U DAT IS READING DIS , BOKO HARAM MAY JUST BE SOME WERE ENJOY DE MONEY THEY HAVE MAKE FROM ROBBING SOME BANKS , ANYWAY IN WAY BOKO HARAM MAY NOT BE THE ONLY 1 IN TERRORISM GAME.

Did anybody interview the campus MSS yet? i choose to believe that they are boko-halal,

i guess that's suppose to mean they support western education. abi they don't?