IG vows tech-driven policing to secure schools

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has promised to deploy modern technology and intelligence-led policing to safeguard schools against security threats and attacks.

Egbetokun stated this on Monday during a stakeholders’ forum meeting on the Safe School initiative.

The theme of the forum was “Strengthening security resilience and integration of host communities in the protection of education.”

“As we are gathered here today, we are reminded of our sacred responsibility to provide a safe and conducive learning environment to our school children.

“We are working tirelessly in collaboration with other sister security agencies to achieve these desired goals.

“We will also make use of modern technology and intelligence-led policing to ensure proactive law enforcement presence around our schools,” the IG said.

Represented by the AIG Zone One, Ahmed Amani, the police boss stressed the importance of collaborative efforts between the various stakeholders to identify threats and ensure adequate security and safety in the schools.

“The key objectives of this forum are to identify and address security threats to schools and strengthen the partnership between the Nigeria Police, educational institutions and host communities to develop effective strategies for preventing and responding to security incidents and promote a culture of security awareness and responsibility among students, teachers and the wider community.

“As part of this initiative, training programmes will be instituted for educators, administrators and security personnel who will in turn leverage the skills to respond to security threats.

“The safe schools are where the culture of safety for our students, teachers, staff and our community at large is ensured,” Egbetokun said.

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, declaring the event open, said the security of the school must be given utmost attention.

Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Ali Makoda, the governor reiterated the commitment of the government to ensuring schools across the state were safe and secure.

He said the government had implemented various measures to ensure the schools were protected, such as the deployment of security personnel and installation of security apparatus, among others.

Earlier, the National Coordinator of School Protection Squad, Abayomi Shogunle, said in recent years, Nigeria had faced security challenges such as kidnappings, homicide, and destruction of school infrastructure.

He said the challenges sometimes led to school closures and negatively affected host communities.

According to him, the incidents could be linked to the increasing number of out-of-school children.

He said the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools in a 2021 report indicated that between 2012 and 2016, more than 600 teachers were killed in attacks, while more than 19,000 were displaced.

Shogunle said this was the reason the Nigerian government, recognising its responsibility to create a safer and more secure learning environment, signed the Safe School Declaration document on December 31, 2019.

A political analyst, Prof Kamilu Fagge, called on the security agencies to ensure synergy with the community members to enjoy goodwill information and to always act swiftly on intelligence reports at their disposal.