By Evelyn Usman

The Nigeria Police Force has taken a step towards securing schools from bandits and terrorists attacks by launching the Schools Protection Squad, SPS in Lagos.
The SPS is expected to train educators, administrators, and security personnel, to recognise and respond to security threats.

Speaking at a Stakeholders’ Forum on the security of schools and training of the Schools Protection Squad, at the  POWA hall,Ikeja, lagos, yesterday ,the IGP emphasized the need for educational authorities, community leaders, and security agencies to work together to secure schools against bandits and terrorists.

Represented by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, AIG Adegoke Fayoade, he noted that insecurity had become a major challenge to the pursuit of education, with schools increasingly targeted in violent conflicts, gang violence, ideological extremism, and criminal operations.
He cited the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) report, which revealed that between 2020 and 2022, there were over 5,000 attacks on schools, students, and educators worldwide, affecting more than 22,000 individuals and disrupting the right to education across 28 countries.
The IGP expressed concern that such attacks had long-lasting psychological scars, interrupt education, and undermine national development.
He said : “School insecurity is not only a breach of the right to education, it is a direct threat to global peace and human capital development. It challenges the international commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Ensuring Quality Education) and Goal 16 (Promoting Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). Other global actors such as Israel, and the United States of America, like Nigeria, scale up protection and are demonstrating proactive models that combine law enforcement, police, innovation and community engagement to fortify school safety.
“It is imperative that our educational authorities and community leaders work hand in glove with the Police and other security agencies, to ensure that our schools are fortified against any potential threats and as we launch the Schools Protection Squad, we mark a significant stride towards an all-inclusive approach to school safety”.
Speaking on the School Protection Squad, the Police boss said, “ We will also make use of modern technology and intelligence-led policing to ensure a proactive law enforcement presence around our schools. It is worth mentioning that perimeter fencing of schools, especially schools in isolated areas, or proximity to creeks and lagoons, including provision of CCTV cameras or monitored by surveillance drones, will go a long way in securing our schools”.
He, therefore, directed Commissioners of Police within the Zone to engage stakeholders in meetings to guarantee the safety of schools.
Earlier in his welcome eremark, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, CP Olohundare Moshood, said the theme of the stakeholders’forum ‘Strengthening Security Resilience and Integration of Host Communities in the Protection of Education’, was timely and  critical at this time than any other time.
He said : “ Our Schools must remain safe havens where learning thrives without fear. This forum, coupled with the training of the Schools Protection Squad (SPS), marks a proactive step toward achieving this goal. The SPS initiative is designed to equip dedicated personnel with the skills, knowledge, and strategies to prevent, respond to, and nip in the bud security concerns and threats in our schools. To achieve this we must cooperate with critical stakeholders most of whom are present here, we must also go beyond this, to ensure that our vision extends to fostering collaboration, building resilience, and integrating the invaluable contributions of our host communities”..
“Security is a collective responsibility. The Nigeria Police Force cannot do this alone. The integration of host communities, parents, local leaders, and residents into our security framework is of great significance”.