Kaduna gov warns against rising extremism in tertiary institutions

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has described Nigeria’s institutions of higher learning as veritable recruitment grounds for extremist groups and criminal organisations.

He made this observation on Friday while serving as a guest lecturer at the 9th convocation ceremony of the Federal University, Dutsinma, Katsina State.

Sani, who was represented by the Commissioner of Education, Kaduna State, Prof. Muhammad Sani Bello, noted that the issue of radicalisation by extremist ideologies on campus is exacerbated by unemployment, poverty, and lack of opportunities for many students, citing that recently, a student of FUDMA was arrested by the police with ammunition intended for criminal activities.

He said, “A recent incident at FUDMA serves as a troubling example of this trend. A student was arrested by the police and found in possession of ammunition intended for criminal activities. This incident underscores the increasing risk of students being drawn into violence, radical ideologies, and illegal activities.

“Such developments not only endanger the lives of the students involved but also threaten the integrity of the institution and the safety of the entire academic community. The vulnerability of students to radicalisation is a direct result of their socio-economic challenges, including frustration with the political system, disillusionment with job prospects, and exposure to extremist ideologies.

“Many tertiary institutions lack the infrastructure and technology needed to create a safe and secure learning environment. Poor security measures on campuses, inadequate facilities, and a lack of surveillance technology have made schools easy targets for bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements. While insurgency and terrorism, particularly from groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP, are more concentrated in the northeast of Nigeria, the effects of their activities ripple across the country.

“The presence of these groups has destabilised the region, leading to the displacement of millions and the destruction of infrastructure, including educational institutions. Insecurity surrounding tertiary institutions has also resulted in brain drain, a phenomenon in which highly qualified academics leave the country or withdraw from service due to fears for their safety. At FUDMA, several senior professors have withdrawn their services from the university, citing the high-risk environment as a factor for their decision to either relocate to safer parts of the country or seek opportunities abroad,” Uba Sani said.