Stay Alert: Kebbi Govt, Security Chiefs Train Principals In ‘Fortifying Schools’

In response to a recent student abduction, the Kebbi State Government has partnered with top security agencies to train secondary school principals in implementing the Safe Schools Initiative, marking a new era of heightened security consciousness across all educational institutions.

The move follows the November kidnapping of students from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, who have since been rescued. The sensitisation workshops, which concluded in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday, are part of Governor Nasir Idris’s directive to prevent any recurrence of such an incident as schools resume.

Addressing school administrators at the final session, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Halima Muhammad-Bande, emphasised that school security is a shared responsibility.

“We must not allow our collective psyche for peaceful living to be taken away by bandits,” she declared. “This is the essence of these fora, to ensure the smooth running of schools through security consciousness for a conducive learning environment.”

She urged principals to build strong relationships with host communities and maintain direct contact with security agencies for professional guidance. The commissioner also confirmed that confidence has been restored at the affected Maga Girls’ School, crediting counselling and the deployment of security personnel for the resumption of academic activities.

During the workshop, security chiefs delivered stern warnings and practical advice. The Assistant Commissioner of Police for Operations, ACP Yakubu Lawal-Gumi, cautioned principals against any form of carelessness.

“You must always manage your schools with security consciousness,” he advised. “Ensure adequate lighting, as criminals detest exposure, and remain alert to suspicious characters.”

Echoing the need for physical security, the Deputy Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Wale Henry, criticised the poor state of many school perimeters. “The pillars of security include proper fencing, vigilance and intelligent personnel manning the school gates,” he stated.

Henry also drew attention to internal threats, warning principals to monitor students closely for signs of cultism and other deviant behaviours. “Principals must tackle internal security challenges as an antidote to external misconduct,” he warned.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Col. Danladi Hassan-Ribah, confirmed that the governor’s directive to secure all school environments has been fully implemented, describing the workshops as a key step in consolidating a safe learning atmosphere statewide.