Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), has called on stakeholders in the education sector to team with the police to ensure the safety of Nigerian schools.
He made the call while launching the Schools Protection Squad in Osogbo, Osun state, on Monday. Represented by Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone XI, Emuobo Ekokutu, Egbetokun stated that the initiative was part of efforts to secure educational institutions and embodies a culture of safety, ensuring the well-being of students, teachers, staff, and the broader community.
“I have directed the Commissioners of Police within the zone to engage stakeholders in meetings to guarantee school safety. The success of this initiative requires collaboration between educational authorities, community leaders, and security agencies,” Egbetokun said. The National Coordinator & Commissioner of Police, Schools Protection Squad (SPS), Force Headquarters, Abuja, CP Abayomi Shogunle, stated that the plan was to strengthen security and integrate host communities into the security architecture in the protection of education. Osun state governor, Ademola Adeleke, said the theme of the workshop, “Strengthening Security Resilience and Integration of Host Communities in the Protection of Education,” was timely and relevant, especially at a time when security challenges in Nigeria, including school kidnappings, vandalism, and forced closures, continue to threaten the education sector.
