Nigeria Police sets up squad to counter insecurity in schools
By Babagana Jidda Kanempress
1st August 2023
As part of efforts to guarantee the security of lives and properties in schools across Nigeria , the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has established Schools Protection Squad (SPS),.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the initiative was geared towards ensuring the safety of schools and students.
In furtherance of the safety drives, Adejobi said that the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, also concluded plans to launch a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) handbook for the Safe Schools Programme.
“The official launch and training event is scheduled to take place on 9th of August 2023, with the participation of 250 individuals drawn from various sectors, including the presidency, executive, judiciary, legislature, security agencies, civil society organizations, media, school administrators, unions, and other stakeholders,” Adejobi said.
He said school protection squad is a specialised unit within the Nigeria Police Force tasked with drawing up policies and engaging relevant stakeholders to ensure the safety and protection of students, teachers, and school infrastructure.
He said that the special squad would be equipped with relevant assets and advanced training to respond effectively to security issues affecting educational institutions.
Adejobi said the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) handbook outlines the best practices and guidelines for securing schools, risk assessment, emergency response protocols, and collaboration among various stakeholders.
Adejobi stated that the handbook will serve as a reference for educational authorities, security agencies, and other participants involved in the Safe Schools Programme, as it would empower them to take effective measures in ensuring the safety and protection of schools.
Meanwhile, the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has called on all relevant stakeholders to actively participate and support the idea for the safety and general well-being of the Nigerian educational assets, saying this can help build a robust education system which guarantees a secure and conducive learning environment for every child.
It will be recalled that there have been cases of attacks on schools, leading to the kidnap of students and teachers.
