Education

Safety of schools remains priority – IGP

By Web News 376

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Olukayode Egbetokun, says the police will continue to give priority to the safety and security of schools nationwide.

Egbetokun said this in Abuja at the inauguration of training on safe schools for state coordinators and divisional police officers (DPOs).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event also featured inauguration platforms, vehicles, and equipment for the Safe School programme.

Egbetokun said the training was designed to equip state coordinators and DPOs nationwide with comprehensive knowledge and strategies on national plans for the Safe Schools initiative.

According to him, it is aimed at crafting a definitive strategy for collaboration between the police and other vital stakeholders to ensure a more protected learning environment for schoolchildren.

He said the inauguration of the equipment was to optimise the human and material resources of the Nigeria Police in combating crimes, particularly those targeting educational institutions.

“We are committed to implementing measures and utilising our resources to diminish the threats facing students, staff, and educational facilities across the country.

“The current police administration has established the Special Intervention Squad to swiftly address and counteract criminal activities nationwide.

“This squad will operate in support of the School Protection Squad to ensure that the country’s educational facilities remain free from danger and unwelcome incidents,” he said.

He said the police would continue to work harmoniously with relevant security agencies and stakeholders, including host communities, to confront those attacking schools.

The I-G urged the participants to embrace the training with the utmost seriousness, adding that the knowledge and skills to be acquired would directly impact the quality of services to be rendered.

In her remarks, Mrs Halima Iliya, the National Coordinator, the Financing Safe Schools Secretariat, said that though the Nigerian educational system has always been in deep crisis, the kidnapping of schoolchildren represented a major extensional threat to the system.

She said the crisis had contributed to the huge population of out-of-school children in the country.

The coordinator called for a policy framework to provide sustainable funding to address the challenges.

Iliya said the absence of funding mechanisms from budgetary allocations by the federal and subnational governments was a challenge to attaining safe schools in the country.

Vanguard/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Security

IGP Attributes Difficulty in Policing to 190,000 Personnel Shortfall

By Web News 454

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP)  Olukayode Egbetokun says insufficient manpower is hindering the agency’s efforts to tackle crime, saying the police need an extra 190,000 personnel to effectively man the country.

IGP Egbetokun said this in a paper presentation to the Senior Executive Course 45 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Plateau State on Wednesday.

According to him, while the UN recommended one police personnel to 460 citizens ratio, Nigeria has a police-citizen ratio of 1-650.

“Therefore, the NPF requires an additional 190,000 personnel to be at parity with the United Nations recommended ratio,” he said.

The police chief noted that if the country is not well-policed, the government’s industrialisation drive would become unrealistic.

“Therefore, the inadequate manpower, which has resulted in a low police presence, could hinder the government’s industrialization efforts,” the IGP added.

“Without sufficient police presence and response capabilities, industrial sites could become vulnerable to  criminal activities and hamper economic progress.”

Aside from this, the low manpower of the Nigerian police is also affecting its capacity to secure the country’s critical infrastructure.

Wednesday’s meeting is part of defence and security studies towards their research for the year hosted by IGP at the Institute lecture hall to discuss the role of police around the three big issues of industrialisation, energy security, and climate change.

The Security Studies Week is an avenue for security chiefs of the military, police, and other para-military outfits to deliver papers for the final research work of the senior executive course.

Channels / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Security

IGP Establishes Special Protection Squad for Schools

By Web News 326

The acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Olukayode Egbetokun, has announced the establishment of the Schools Protection Squad, a proactive initiative aimed at enhancing security and safety in educational institutions across Nigeria.

The Force Headquarters, in a statement obtained by newsmen on Monday, said this was part of Egbetokun’s policy geared towards the security of lives and property, most especially the safety of schools and students.

“In furtherance of the safety drives, the IG has also concluded plans to launch a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure handbook for the Safe Schools Programme.

“The official launch and training event is scheduled to take place on August 9, 2023, with the participation of 250 individuals drawn from various sectors, including the presidency, executive, judiciary, legislature, security agencies, civil society organizations, media, school administrators, unions, and other stakeholders,” The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said.

Adejobi further noted that the SPS is a specialized unit within the Nigeria Police Force tasked with drawing up policies and engaging relevant stakeholders to ensure the safety and protection of students, teachers, and school infrastructure.

He added, “The squad will be equipped with relevant assets and advanced training to effectively respond to security challenges facing educational institutions. The launch of the SOP handbook for the Safe Schools Programme is an integral part of the initiative. This comprehensive handbook outlines the best practices and guidelines for securing schools, risk assessment, emergency response protocols, and collaboration between various stakeholders.

“The SOP will serve as a crucial reference for educational authorities, security agencies, and other participants involved in the Safe Schools Programme, empowering them to take coordinated and effective measures in ensuring the safety and protection of schools.

“The Inspector-General of Police, hereby calls on all relevant stakeholders to actively participate and support the initiative for the safety and general well-being of our educational assets in Nigeria. The IG similarly believes that through collaborative efforts and a united approach, Nigeria can build a robust education system that guarantees a secure and conducive learning environment for every child.”

It is worth noting that there have been previous incidents of attacks on schools, resulting in the abduction of students and teachers.

Punch / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Security

Obey Traffic Rules, IGP Orders All Police Convoys

By Web News 711

The acting Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has issued a directive ordering all police convoys to henceforth, as a matter of compulsion, obey all traffic regulations.

The IG gave the directive Monday during his meeting with the Mobile Police Squadron and commanders at the Force headquarters in Abuja.

According to him, the Force must lead by example if it is to command the respect of the general public. He therefore pledged to lead by example, promising to also observe all traffic regulations.

He said, “Let me end this speech by reminding you that those who keep the peace must be the epitome of peace. Those whose duty it is to enforce the laws of the land must themselves respect and obey the laws of the land. Without obeying the laws, the Police lack the moral high ground to interrogate and bring lawbreakers to book.

“Consequently, in line with my vision of building a rule of law compliant Police Force, it is my directive that henceforth all police convoys on routine, non-emergency movements must obey traffic lights and other traffic rules, I pledge to lead by example in this regard. As you will be returning to your various bases, I wish you a safe journey and please be assured of my best wishes always.”

Speaking further, the IG also said the newly created special squad—Special Intervention Squad—will comprise 40,000 specially trained officers, selected from the pool of existing Police Mobile Force personnel and all tactical units across the country.

He said, “Modalities for the creation of a new special squad—the Special Intervention Squad have been initiated. This special squad will consist of 40,000 specially trained elite officers. The Squad will be formed by selecting officers from the pool of existing Police Mobile Force personnel and all tactical units in the country.

“These officers will undergo intensive pre-deployment training to make them combat ready for frontline operational duties in all the states of the Federation, with a particular focus on areas plagued with unrest and turmoil. By pooling together the expertise and experience of our PMF personnel and other tactical units, we can establish a formidable force that is well-equipped to handle the evolving challenges we face.

“This dedicated force will bolster our capacity to respond swiftly and decisively to security threats, ensuring that our presence is felt and our response is effective in every corner of our country.

“1,000 personnel from this new squad will be deployed to every state of the Federation for immediate operations as standby intervention units, while more troubled spots or zones will receive the remaining officers out of the 40,000.

“These officers will not perform routine police duties but will be housed and kept combat-ready at all times, engaging in daily training in readiness for deployments to intercept and neutralise high-profile criminals and those terrorising our communities. They will be deployed to intervene rapidly and proactively in any situation necessary in their states of assignment”, Egbetokun said.

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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