The Gombe State Police Command has launched a School Protection Squad (SPS) training programme as part of a nationwide initiative to enhance security in educational institutions.
The event in Gombe on May 6, 2025, brought together stakeholders from the government, security agencies, traditional institutions, civil society, and the education sector.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, was represented by Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 12, Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, who described the Safe School Initiative as a community-driven approach to protecting children’s educational rights.
He noted that the National Educational Security Policy provides a framework for proactive responses to emerging security threats, ensuring the safety of students, teachers, and school communities.
Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, represented by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Colonel Abdullahi Bello (Rtd), reaffirmed the state government’s support for the Safe School Initiative and commended the Nigeria Police Force for its efforts to safeguard schools.
The National Coordinator and Commissioner of Police for the School Protection Squad, Abayomi Shogunle, provided an overview of the policy and its guidelines for ensuring safe and secure learning environments across the nation.
He stated that the initiative aims to strengthen security resilience, integrate host communities into the security architecture of school protection, enhance the capacity of school communities, and establish a robust national school security and emergency response infrastructure.
Gombe State Commissioner of Police, Bello Yahaya, spoke on the need for collective efforts from government agencies, school authorities, parents, community members, and all stakeholders to assess, strategise, and act proactively to ensure schools remain safe and conducive for learning.
The event also featured goodwill messages from dignitaries, including the Chairman of the Gombe State House Committee on Education and Safe School, Shuaibu Adamu; the Emir of Gombe and Chairman of the Gombe State Council of Chiefs, represented by Danlawal Gombe, Sani Jauro; and the National Coordinator on Financing Safe Schools, Federal Ministry of Finance, Halima Iliya.
The establishment of the SPS aligns with the Nigeria Police Force’s broader strategy to protect educational institutions nationwide.
In August 2023, the Inspector General of Police launched the Standard Operating Procedure manual for the Schools Protection Squad and organised a workshop on the Safe Schools Initiative for strategic police managers in Abuja.
The initiative commenced with 18 pilot states identified as more vulnerable, including the Federal Capital Territory.
The SOP manual provides clear guidelines for the operationalisation of the SPS, including procedures for mobilisation, a code of conduct for officers, and collaboration with other security agencies.
The Nigeria Police Force continues to train state coordinators and divisional police officers nationwide to equip them with comprehensive knowledge of the police’s role in the national plan for safe schools.
This training facilitates the development of a strategic roadmap for the force’s collaboration with various stakeholders to secure children’s learning environments while optimising the human and material resources of the force to tackle crimes, particularly those targeting educational institutions.
The Gombe State Police Command’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all educational institutions in the state is evident through the launch of the SPS training programme.
The command calls on the public to support this vital initiative to protect the future of Nigeria’s children.
Leave feedback about this