SAN FRANCISCO, November 21, (THEWILL) – The General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, Borno State, Major General Obidah Ethan, on Thursday, assured returning students of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) of their safety.
Disclosing that the newly-created division of the Nigerian Army has put in place machinery to ensure safe return of students to the school, Ethan assured that the Division would ensure smooth return of the students to the institution when the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) finally calls off its ongoing industrial action.
Most of the students had left Maiduguri due to the ongoing ASUU strike which is expected to be called off soon and there are fears among the students and their parents over the safe passage of the returning students with recent killings along the major roads leading to Maiduguri.
But the GOC assured top the management staff of the University who paid him a courtesy call in his office at the Headquarter of the Division that the military has already intensified patrol along the highways linking Maiduguri with other cities.
He said since the institution is a citadel of learning and development of the nation’s human capacity, the military is left with no other option than to provide adequate security to the staff and students of the school, stressing that the “students are our own children.”
The GOC added that he equally owed the institution a debt of appreciation and service as an alumnus to provide needed security for staff and students alike.
He assured that the Army was ready to partner with the institution in the areas of research and development, noting that the military do not only rely on guns to pursue it roles of securing the territorial integrity of the nation but also make use of intelligence gathering.
The Vice Chancellor of the school, Professor Mala Daura, in is response said the management team was at the Army Division to introduce its principal officers to the Division.
He also pleaded for the assistance of the military to ensure adequate security measures on the highways that linked Maiduguri and other cities to allow for the safe return of students of the institution.
