LAGOS GOVT. CANCELS VACATION CLASSES

Worried by rising kidnap and rape cases across the state, Lagos State Government has introduced measures during this vacation to forestall any possible ugly situation that may arise in public schools.

The state government had in a memo to all permanent secretaries, tutors-general of the six educational districts in the state, asked them to stop all forms of vacation teaching for rest of the year.

The government attributed the measure to "present security situation and threats by kidnappers" in the state.

A source at the state Ministry of Education, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the directive, yesterday.

The source said: "The state government took the measure in order to find holistic solution to the recent cases of kidnapping and rape in public schools.

"To this end, government representatives will be meeting with stakeholders during the vacation period to deliberate and find a lasting solution to the ugly trend, especially with those schools in the riverine areas, once and for all."

It was gathered that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has expressed concern over the need to step up security around schools in the interest of the pupils.

Vanguard also learned that in some public schools, the paltry salaries being paid to security men are being delayed by school authorities who are in charge of payment.

Recent school kidnaps

Six Senior Secondary School students of Lagos State Model College, Igbo-Nla, in Epe area, who were kidnapped by unknown gunmen 56 days ago are still being held at press time.

Four students and two staff of the school were abducted last October. The kidnappers involved in a second operation at the same school, according to police sources, were suspected to be members of a militant kidnap gang.