Terrorism: universities told to tighten security

By Vision Reporter

The Association for African Universities (AAU) has called on higher institutions of learning across the continent to tighten their security in the wake of recent terrorist attacks against academic establishments.

“Following the gruesome attack by Al Shabaab insurgents on Garissa University College students in Kenya, which killed 147 students and left many wounded, the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls at the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, North-eastern Nigeria by Boko Haram insurgents exactly a year ago, and numerous acts of atrocities committed by so-called religious fundamentalists against innocent citizens across Africa, AAU is strongly urging all institutions of learning to increase security measures on their campuses to ensure the safety of lives and properties,” the association said in a statement yesterday.
 
“The AAU is deeply concerned and saddened by these deadly raids on students, condemns the act in no uncertain terms and expresses its condolences to the families, friends and all people affected by this wanton acts of barbarism,” said the statement from the association Secretary general Prof. Etienne Ehouan Ehile.
 
The association headquartered in the Ghanaian capital Accra was established in 1967 and is a representative voice for its 320-strong member institution. It is an international non-governmental organization to promote cooperation among member institutions and the international academic community.

In the statement, AAU noted that education is key to the development of every society.

“It is therefore very heartbreaking to see students, who are the future leaders of Africa, lose their lives or become maimed through such unorthodox and barbaric means whilst searching for knowledge. This cannot be allowed to go on uncurbed,” Ehile said.
 
“The AAU is thus calling on the international community, the African Union, other regional bodies in Africa, as well as all religious bodies to join forces in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The association is again calling on all Universities to increase collaborations with the various security forces in their countries to ensure that campuses are well protected and very safe spaces for academic work,” he added.

In Uganda, security has already been beefed up in universities including the deployment of heavily armed military police in public universities. The police has also stepped up community policing including giving security and safety tip to students in educational establishments at all levels.

Police chief Gen. Kale Kayihura has said thwarting terrorism is a collective rather than individual effort. He says the public plays a crucial role if fighting sophisticated crime by being security alert and passing on intelligence to security agencies.

Related

Garissa attack: Makerere students hold prayers

Kenya mourns Garissa victims with Easter prayers

Makerere wants a perimeter wall to ensure security