Insecurity: IGP Launches Schools Protection Squad

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has launched the Nigeria Police Force Safe Schools Initiative and inaugurated the Lagos State Police Command Schools Protection Squad (SPS), as part of the move to secure educational institutions against rising security threats nationwide.

Speaking at the stakeholders forum with the theme, Strengthening Security Resilience And Integration of Host Communities In The Protection of Education, the IGP represented by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2, AIG Fayoade Adegoke, remarked that the initiative was designed to institutionalise a culture of safety in schools and prevent attacks on students, teachers, and educational facilities.

He asserted that the two-day Stakeholders Strategic Forum aims to build community resilience, foster collaborative security models for schools, and create dialogue among education authorities and law enforcement agencies.

The police boss noted that education remains the cornerstone of individual and national development, and its protection must be prioritised.

“Education empowers individuals and paves the way for economic progress. Yet, insecurity continues to threaten this noble pursuit significantly,” he stated.

He added that the initiative was borne out of the Police Force’s commitment to integrating safety into the country’s broader security architecture, particularly around schools.

The IGP further disclosed that he had mandated the Commissioners of Police within the zone to convene stakeholder meetings to safeguard schools.

“Security is a shared responsibility. We expect all school leaders, parents, and community actors to collaborate with security agencies actively,” he said.

While quoting figures from the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA), he remarked that from 2020 to 2022, over 5,000 attacks on educational institutions were recorded globally, affecting more than 22,000 persons.

Egbetokun said the rise in school attacks undermines Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) four and 16, focusing on quality education, peace, justice, and strong institutions, respectively.

He revealed that teachers, school administrators, and security personnel will undergo specialised training to detect and respond to threats under the new scheme. “We will also deploy CCTV cameras, drone surveillance, and perimeter fencing for schools in vulnerable or isolated locations,” he added.