Boko Haram: Reps urge FG to stop imminent closure of UniMaid

THE House of Representatives on Thursday urged the Federal Government to urgently intervene and put in place extraordinary measures to ensure restoration of peace and tranquillity to the University of Maiduguri, including the immediate perimeter fencing of the school and the deployment of critical security systems to ensure full surveillance and detection of security breaches.

The House also urged the Security Agencies to submit a comprehensive plan of action to maintain constant security of the University in particular and the host community of the school in general to the House.

The House resolution followed a motion sponsored by Honourable Mohammed Monguno entitled, “need to Avert the Imminent Closure of University of Maiduguri Due to Rising Insecurity Occasioned by the Spate of Suicide Bomb Attacks.”

The lawmaker noted that “due to the location of that great institution in Maiduguri which is the epicentre of the protracted Boko Haram insurgency, the school is gradually but persistently becoming a soft target for the Boko Haram Insurgents.

The lawmaker also expressed concerned that “this foremost institution which can safely be described as the last institution standing in Maiduguri following the advent of Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East is on the verge of caving in to the relentless assault on it by the insurgents.”

According to him, “the insurgents have adopted the tactics of suicide bombings targeted at the institution with a view to bringing the University down, a situation that must not be allowed to happen.

“This unfortunate new wave of violence, which is drawing public outcry and condemnations from home and abroad, has heightened the fears that the once most peaceful and globally competitive centre for multi-cultural research and learning may be converted into another theatre of war”, he stated.

Due to the Boko Haram insurgency in Maiduguri, he said, “over seventy (70) Professors, several students and staff left the University at the height of the insecurity in the campus to other universities within and outside the country out of fear.”

He maintained that between January 16 and June 25, 2017, the University community was hit with six suicide bomb blasts which resulted in the death of 19 students and staff.

The University has lost some of its best hands to the current insecurity on the campus, notably Late Professor Aliyu Usman Mani who was killed along with two other students when the Institution was attacked by two suicide bombers on Monday, January 16, 2017;

The motion was passed through voice vote put by the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara who presided over the session.