In a bid to curb rising insecurity and threats of kidnapping in and around schools, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has inaugurated the School Protection Squad (SPS) under the Safe School Initiative in Nasarawa State.
The initiative, launched in Lafia, aims to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and learning environments in both public and private institutions across the country.
Speaking at the launch, Governor Abdullahi Sule, accompanied by his deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, commended the IGP for the timely intervention. He urged education stakeholders to take the training seriously and remain vigilant by reporting suspicious activity to security agencies.
Representing the IGP at the event, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 4, Zacharia Achinyan Fera, said the initiative reflects the commitment of the police force to safeguarding educational institutions and their surrounding communities.
“Our schools are not just sanctuaries of knowledge, but nurturing grounds for our future leadership. Their protection is the protection of our future,” he said.
The IGP has directed all Commissioners of Police nationwide to replicate the initiative, ensuring school safety is prioritised. He further called on traditional and community leaders to collaborate with security agencies to fortify school premises against threats.
The initiative includes the training of educators, administrators, and security personnel to identify and respond to emerging threats. Modern security tools will be deployed to proactively detect and neutralise risks.
Commissioner of Police, Schools Protection Squad, CP Abayomi Shogunle, stated that insecurity in schools has led to closures and an increase in out-of-school children. He emphasised that the new unit is designed to strengthen school safety infrastructure and integrate host communities into the national plan for financing safe schools.
“The objectives are to build community capacity to protect education, create an efficient national school emergency response system, and enhance intelligence gathering and response,” Shogunle said.
He announced that Nasarawa has been selected for the pilot phase of the initiative and provided an emergency contact number — 08077357777 — available 24/7 for reporting school-related threats.
In his welcome address, the state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Mohammed, described the launch as a significant milestone in efforts to safeguard lives and promote uninterrupted learning.
“Schools are not only centers of education but symbols of hope and growth. Their safety is a moral imperative,” he said.
He praised the IGP and Nigeria Police leadership for the forward-looking initiative, which supports national objectives on sustainable development and human capital advancement.
