Hon. Bamidele Salam, who represents Ede North/South, Egbedero/Ejigbo Federal Constituency, has said that the level of security provided for public office holders shows that the government is capable of protecting schools across the country.
The lawmaker made the remarks during a plenary session on Wednesday, in a video that has since gone viral.
He referenced a Yoruba proverb to illustrate his point, saying: “There is a saying among Yoruba people that if a lion comes into a village and kills the children of the poor, there may be no noise, there may be no mourning. But the day the lion comes into the village and kills a child of the king, the whole city is turned to a graveyard.”
He added that most leaders are able to shield their own children by enrolling them in private institutions or sending them abroad, while children of teachers, labourers, and other low-income earners remain in public schools that lack adequate protection.
According to him, the situation calls for urgent government intervention, including the creation of a dedicated security architecture for schools.
He noted that several countries facing similar challenges have developed specialised systems to safeguard learning environments, adding that Nigeria had once introduced a school security initiative under the Civil Defence, but it was reportedly never properly funded.
Salam insisted that securing all schools is achievable, rejecting claims to the contrary.
“I think that it is high time that we look at this problem in a very urgent manner and provide adequate security for all schools. I disagree with those who say we cannot protect all schools.”
“If we can protect the thousands of public office holders in Nigeria, we can protect the children of the poor who attend public schools, teachers,” he said.
He also urged the government to respond more proactively to the recent incident in Oyo State, stressing the need for reassurance and stronger action to support victims and prevent further attacks.
