School insecurity is threat to global peace, human development – IGP Egbetokun launches Safe Schools Initiative in Lagos
In a decisive move to combat rising insecurity in educational institutions, the Nigeria Police has launched the IGP’s Safe Schools Initiative and inaugurated the Lagos Schools Protection Squad. The initiative, spearheaded by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, is aimed at strengthening security architecture around schools in Lagos State and across Nigeria.
The launch took place during a two-day IGP Stakeholders’ Forum on School Security held at POWA Hall, Ikeja GRA, Lagos. Represented by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, AIG Adegoke Fayoade, the IGP emphasized that insecurity in schools goes beyond local concerns and now constitutes a major threat to global peace and human capital development.
“School insecurity is not only a breach of the right to education. It directly threatens global peace and development goals, particularly SDG 4 and SDG 16,” Egbetokun said. He cited proactive school protection models in countries like Israel and the United States, urging Nigeria to adopt similar approaches that combine innovation, law enforcement, and community engagement.
Egbetokun outlined components of the Safe Schools Initiative, including the training of educators, administrators, and security personnel to identify and respond to threats; increased perimeter fencing of schools in isolated or high-risk areas; deployment of surveillance tools such as CCTV and drones; and intelligence-led policing.
He appealed to parents, school authorities, and communities to collaborate with security agencies in fostering a culture of safety in and around educational environments.
Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in Lagos, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun, also emphasized the significance of the initiative, describing it as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He reiterated the urgent need to protect schools from both external threats like kidnapping and internal dangers such as cultism, bullying, and drug abuse.
“The safe school declaration document serves as a critical policy to secure the lives of students, staff, and infrastructure,” he said. “We must work as one — communities and security agencies — to ensure safety in our learning spaces.”
Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command, CP Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, affirmed the Command’s commitment to prioritizing school safety. “Our schools must be sanctuaries of learning. The training of the Schools Protection Squad is a proactive measure to deter and respond to security threats,” he said.
He added that the squad will be equipped with specialized skills to tackle school-related crimes while collaborating with key stakeholders to build resilient learning environments.
The National Coordinator on Financing Safe Schools, Hajiya Halima Iliya, noted that the initiative uses a multi-level strategy that includes community involvement and psychosocial support for survivors of school attacks. She encouraged more states to adopt the program to improve Nigeria’s Human Capital Index.
She further explained that the National Plan includes transferring students from volatile areas to safer locations, promoting school enrollment, and funding security through collaboration among federal, state, and local governments.
Commissioner of Police in charge of the Schools Protection Squad at the Force Headquarters, CP Abayomi Shogunle, shared statistics and milestones that led to the initiative. He noted that more than 600 teachers were killed and over 19,000 displaced in attacks between 2012 and 2016, which prompted the signing of the Safe Schools Declaration in December 2019.
He highlighted key developments such as Nigeria hosting the 4th International Conference on Safe Schools in 2021, the introduction of the National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools, and the establishment of a national emergency center for school-related crises.
“Lagos has now been included as one of the pilot states in the first phase of implementation due to its strategic importance. Investing in education is ultimately investing in human capital development,” Shogunle added.
The forum attracted key education stakeholders, law enforcement officials, and community leaders who all pledged their support for safer schools in Nigeria.
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