Imo To Clamp Down On Schools’ Encroachers

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has warned that the government will clamp down on people encroaching on government school lands, saying such will soon be reclaimed.

This is even as the Nigeria Police Force has called for improved collaborations to enhance the security of schools and students, saying security is a shared responsibility.

Uzodimma disclosed on Wednesday, during the launch of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Safe School Initiative and the inauguration of the Imo Command’s School Protection Squad in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

Represented by the Secretary to the government of Imo state, Chief Cosmas Iwu, the governor said nations worldwide were battling security issues, adding that Nigeria had its share.

He maintained that proactive policing and prevention were the solution to insecurity issues, but he noted that it was dynamic, as insecurity fighters work hard to beat measures.

The governor said, “Insecurity is dynamic, but in Imo State, it has reduced gradually due to the efforts of the police and security agencies. The governor has assured that he will continue to support the Police and security agencies. Could you come up with solutions, and the government will implement them?

“We are renovating the schools and building new ones across the 305 wards in the State. You can check; renovation is ongoing.

“But another worry is that even in the schools, individuals are encroaching on the schools themselves, on the land of the schools, building houses, building shops, endangering the lives of the pupils and the students.

“There’s a government policy to recover those lands, so that the school premises will be fenced and protected, and students have an environment conducive to learning. Not that when a school is in session, a building is inside the school, and they are playing music or selling beer, polluting the environment. It makes security work very difficult, and that is the step that the government is taking.

“We want security agencies to combat the crime that is going on in the schools, because it does nobody any good. Let us reciprocate to the schools that made us, the primary and secondary schools we attended, by renovating them. You don’t have to wait for the government; let us be our brother’s keeper and be responsible. Help the government to help the community, it is not too much for individuals in the community to participate in the development of our schools because the government is like a polygamous wife, there is no way it can solve all your problems”, Iwu said.

Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in zone 9, Umuahia, Kanayo Uzuegbu, said that schools are sanctuaries of knowledge and the foundations for the nation’s future. As such, their security is not just a priority but a necessity. He added that the safety of schools equates to the safety of the future and must be protected against all threats.

The AIG said securing the schools was a collective task, as the Police cannot achieve it alone and requires the collaboration of all stakeholders, whether government agencies, school administrators, parents, communities, and civil societies, because security is a shared responsibility.

He said, “However, securing our schools is not one the Police can undertake alone. It requires the collaboration of every stakeholder — government agencies, school administrators, parents, communities, and civil society. Security is a shared responsibility.

“Therefore, I call upon all of us to join hands in fostering partnerships that address local safety concerns. We can create a protective shield around our schools and learning centres”.

The Police boss disclosed that the Force will organise specialised training programmes for school administrators and security personnel, “equipping them with the knowledge and tools to detect and respond to potential threats. Additionally, we will harness the power of modern technology and intelligence-led policing to maintain a proactive security presence around our schools”, the AIG said.

Uzuegbu appealed that all school authorities, parents and communities should work with law enforcement agencies to ensure a safe, nurturing, and inclusive learning environment for Nigerian children.

National Coordinator, Schools Protection Squad (SPS) Abayomi Shogunle, a Commissioner of Police, said the objective was to strengthen security resilience and integrate host communities into the security architecture to protect education.

Others include enhancing the capacity of school communities to protect education, creating an effective and efficient national security and emergency response infrastructure, and enhancing the capacity of security agencies to gather intelligence, prevent, and respond to attacks on educational institutions.

The event brought together stakeholders, including students who expressed their fears and called for safer environments.