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By Madu Obi
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has called for effective collaboration among stakeholders to prioritize security and protection of schools across the country.
The IGP, who spoke through the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, in charge of Zone 13, Ukpo, Anambra State , Godwin Aghaulo, during strategic stakeholders forum for the security of schools and training of the Schools Protection Squad (SPS) in Awka, said the squad became necessary to ensure all- time safety of schools for conducive learning environment.
He added that the police had initiated the process to train state coordinators and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) nationwide for the purpose, adding that there is need for collaboration with host communities, including teachers, community leaders, parents, and institutions for the programme to function effectively.
“We recognize the vital importance of strengthening security resilience in our host communities. The safety and security of our educational institutions are paramount, and it is imperative that we work together to protect our students and educators.
Collaboration and integration between host communities and security agencies play a significant role in fostering secure and harmonious coexistence.
By building strong partnerships, we are proactively addressing the challenges and security threats faced by educational institutions in our country,” he said.
The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam, described the initiative as timely, adding that it would further increase public confidence in the police and other security agencies for the protection of lives and property.
He said: “To address this challenge, we must adopt a multi-faceted approach, such as conducting regular security assessments, developing emergency response plans, enhancing access control and surveillance systems, collaborating with law enforcement agencies, and training educators and staff on security protocols.
The benefits of this initiative cannot be overemphasized. It will also enhance security for schools and students, improve community relations and cooperation, increase resilience to conflicts and crises, and better protect educational infrastructure".
Also speaking, the national coordinator of Schools Protection Squad, Lanre Ogunlowo, a Commissioner of Police (CP), explained that the operation was aimed at improving the security of lives and property in all schools across the country to enhance the teaching and learning processes.
Anambra State deputy governor, Dr. Onyekachi Ibezim expressed delight that Anambra was the first state the programme was launched, noting that with the array of human and material resources in the country, there is virtually nothing Nigeria could not achieve.
"We are happy that the federal government, through the police, has woken up to secure schools across the country. We want to assure the IGP that Anambra State government will continue to work hard to provide adequate security in all schools in the state", he said.
He urged the traditional rulers, the President's General of the various communities and other organizations to take the issue seriously so as to sustain the achievements recorded by the state government in the education sector.
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