Our tertiary institution witnessed cases of kidnapping. University of Abuja has to take precautionary measures. That was the ideal of recruiting hunters
By Moses Okorie
The safety management of the University of Abuja has expressed readiness to work in partnership with the Nigerian Hunter and Forest Security Service, NHFSS, to ensure adequate security of lives and property on campus.
The Director Safety of the institution, Barrister Ibrahim Abdullahi Burga, made this known when he received in audience the management of the NHFSS, FCT Command on Monday who paid him a courtesy visit on campus, and also to tell him that the Commander General of NHFSS, Dr. Joshua Wole Osatimehin, has instructed the FCT Command to coordinate all activities of the NHFSS deployed to UniAbuja.
Speaking on their mission at the university, the FCT Commander, Mr. Kyauta Bawa said, “We were sent by the Commander General, because our men are working here without our consent.
“We want to take charge and coordinate all their activities. We are here to step in as a state with the direction of the national”.
In his response, Director Safety, Barr Burga said the university in time past, experience some cases of insecurity and needed to take security measures, which included recruitment of vigilante group members as well as men of Nigerian Hunter & Forest Security Service, and so they contacted the commander in Gwagwalada Area Council, which is their primary place of operation.
He added that he is ready to work with the state command, because the officers of the NHFSS have performed credibly within the period of time they have worked with the university
He expressed willingness to continue working with them under the leadership of the FCT Command.
According to him, “Our tertiary institution witnessed cases of kidnapping. University of Abuja has to take precautionary measures. That was the ideal of recruiting hunters, and we contacted the local commander in Gwagwalada. We have taken them for vetting at the DSS; there was no favouritism.
“It was based on merit, because it is the service we are targeting. Those that scaled through were taken. They have been doing marvelously well”.
Barr Burga revealed that recently someone from Zamfara was arrested at the University of Abuja with a pump-action gun, with the intention to join his colleagues and perpetuate evil.
The Director Safety promised that with the visit of the FCT commander, the school would do the needful and commission a mini outpost for the group on the campus.
Commander Bawa said his men have been trained on security matters, even as he too is an ex-serviceman from the Nigerian Army, and assured the university of professionalism in the conduct of their duties.