Fear grips parents, teachers as ‘Boko Haram’ threatens to attack school

Intense fear has gripped parents and teachers of the Federal Government College (FGC) Odogbolu, Ogun State, after it received a mysterious text message, from suspected members of Boko Haram sect, threatening to soon bomb the school.
The text message was said to have been sent to the phone of the Principal of the school, Mrs. Bassey Duke Akon Ntekin and believed to be from members of the sect. The sender(s) claimed to be members of Boko Haram, threatening to come soonest to bomb the school.

The school had not taken the message with levity, but had contacted the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB), State Security Service (S.S.S) and a Civil Defense Corps.  

Mrs. Ntekin had also alerted other teachers and parents of the school and on June, I, 2014, a meeting was scheduled, with the Ogun State Police Spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi in attendance.

The hall were the meeting was held was filled up to the brim, as parents came all the way from long distance to listen to the challenges facing the school and there wards.

Adejobi advised parents and teachers to be alert, suggesting they report any suspicious movement.

Ntekin said:  "Due to the insecurity in the country and apparent threat message forwarded to the school, security has been beef up in and around the college at day and night time."

She further said that the police had been on night patrol since May18t, 2014. The principal called on the federal government to come to the aid of the school because the students were precious.

The Chairperson of the Parents Teacher Association (PTA) of the school, Mrs. Chinyere Itesi implored the association members to help in tackling the challenges facing the school right.

Itesi said that immediately the text message was received, warning them of the threat, the executive came and had an emergency meeting and decided to visit the DPO and the Commissioner of Police Ogun State.

She said that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Okoye Ikemefuna, paid a surprised visit to the school on Sunday, May, 25, 2014, showing great concern for the safety of the children

Itesi added: “The main challenge against the Nigerian state has been internal threat to security and suddenly terrorism. Security, in term of bribery and corruption, stealing, kidnapping and ritual killings. All these are security threat to the nation. How can this nation move forward, with people watching their backs with each step they take? The most commonly word bandied around today is ‘security’ which is derived from the Greek word, meaning ‘to be in the state of no fear.’ But as it is now, we are all in a state of fear in Nigeria.

“The abduction of Chibok girls took away the shine or joy of May 27 and the killing of student Federal Government College in Buni Yadi, Yobe State, making security a day to day issue. Making the children not to enjoy their lives.”

 

Itesi revealed that the Oba of the community had already alerted local vigilante group in the area to increase man power and surveillance.

The school had also taken steps by employing six security men and two more porters to increase the surveillance and routine security checks in the school.

The security guards in the school were given N200, 000 to purchase items like phones, rain coat, torchlights to make their job easier.

One of the parents who spoke with our correspondent and wished to remain anonymous said: “I’m not happy with the kidnapping of our Chibok girls. It pains me so much to see how much these children suffer in the hands of those Boko Haram members. God will judge them!"

Mrs, Ebun, another angry parent, said that when she heard about the threat messages to her children school, her first plan was to withdraw her kids from the school, but after a second thought, she decided that everyone parents should come together to safeguard their kids.

Itesi was not happy, that a school, with such a large expanse of land, about 507mtr hectare of land, was without a perimeter fence, “This means anybody from anywhere can gain access into the school property and harm the students.”

 Arguing that a fence was desperately needed in the school, Itesi said that the federal government should build a fence that would last.

Adding, "These children are our pride, joy and also the future of tomorrow. If we don't do all our possible best to keep them safe, what do we parents want to rely on?"

At the end of the meeting, the parents agreed to form a security team for the safety of their kids. They vowed to do everything to make their children safe.