Kidnapping: Lagos recruits military-trained guards for schools

In a bid to tackle kidnapping in schools, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has disclosed that the state government is recruiting military trained personnel as guards for public schools in the state.

 The move, according to Ambode yesterday, was to strengthen security in public primary and secondary schools in Lagos State.

 5, 000 youths from the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas, LCDA, have been trained in military tactics and formations. The governor disclosed this while reacting to the plea by the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Colonel Fola Akande (retd) at the launching of the 2017 Armed Forces remembrance emblem Appeal, themed ‘Appreciating the resilience of the Armed Forces,’ held at the banquet hall of the Lagos House, Ikeja.

 Though he didn’t disclose the number of personnels to be employed, but said “As part of keeping the public schools safe, we will engage majority of these trained young men.” Within this year, two kidnap cases were recorded in schools located in eastern part of the state.

 Ambode noted that the state government would also increase the donation to the Nigerian legion, which was often used to cater for widows of falling soldiers, aged military officers and others, to N5 million and that two Hilux Van, will be donated to the legion for surveillance.

 The governor, however, urged residents of Lagos to donate generously in the remembrance of the fallen and for the welfare of their widows, especially during this Yuletide season. Earlier, Akande disclosed to Vanguard that 5, 000 youths have been trained on military formations, to provide adequate security within the state. He said: “We have trained able-bodied young men and women for six months on security duties.

 The training is completed and the trainees are waiting for deployment to schools across the state.” On the fund, the chairman explained that the money donated last year by the state government was used to procure bags of rice, textile materials and others items for the widows and aged military officers in the state.