Police Launch School Protection Squad to Boost Security in Benue Schools
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Police Launch School Protection Squad to Boost Security in Benue Schools
The Nigeria Police Force has inaugurated a two-day stakeholders’ forum and training program aimed at strengthening school security in Benue State. The event is part of the national Safe School Initiative designed to safeguard educational institutions from threats such as kidnapping, cultism, and other criminal activities.
Held at the New Banquet Hall of the Government House in Makurdi, the forum featured the official launch of the School Protection Squad (SPS). Representing the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, was AIG Zacharia Achinyan, fdc, of Zone 4, who emphasized the importance of secure learning environments.
“Our schools are not only sanctuaries of knowledge but also the breeding grounds for future leaders,” the IGP noted. He urged Commissioners of Police to work closely with local stakeholders, highlighting plans to integrate technology and intelligence-led policing to bolster school safety.
Benue State Commissioner of Police, CP Emenari Ifeanyi, PhD, described the program as timely and necessary, given the state’s ongoing security challenges. “Our children are our future and must be protected,” he said.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, represented by Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Deborah Aber, Esq., outlined state-level security interventions, including special operations, provision of mobility resources for security agencies, and the creation of a State School Response Centre.
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Also speaking at the event, CP Abayomi Shogunle, PhD, fsi, National Coordinator for the SPS, revealed plans for a 24-hour emergency response center dedicated to school-related incidents. He stressed that the initiative would help reduce the number of out-of-school children and enhance Nigeria’s human capital development.
Hajiya Halima Iliya, National Coordinator for Safe School Programme Financing, called for a collaborative, society-wide approach to school security, urging greater awareness among school administrators and communities.
Participants were trained in areas such as security awareness, ICT, and community partnership strategies, all aimed at improving the safety of schools throughout Benue State.
