The Nigeria Police Strategic Forum in collaboration with Stakeholders Forum says its paramount aim is to ensure effective security compliances and safety in all schools within Anambra state.
To this end, the security of schools in Anambra state and training of the Schools Protection Squad (SPS) in schools will ensure smooth running of educational system.
The inaugration on Wednesday, 30th Oct, 2024 at the Dora Akunyili centre, Awka, had the two days event theme tagged, “Strengthening Security Resilience and Integration of Host Communties in the protection of education”.
Speaking at the opening remark, the
Commissioner of Police, Anambra Command, CP Obono Nnaghe Itam while welcoming dignitaries, said that the event tends to foster sustainable school safety among the 179 communities in Anambra state.
According to CP Itam, the initiative will not only boost the confidence but foster the required collaboration with other sister agencies, the school and parents to ensure safety in schools.
“Irrespective of the challenges encountered in fighting insecurity, we will continue to join forces and enjoin multi-task approaches to ensure the lives and properties of our students in Anambra state is save so that people can sleep with their eyes closed.
The Commissioner mantained that effective synergy with agencies, training of officers, inauguration of School Protection Squad and use of surveillance approaches will help to tackle insecurity.
“Our desire is to see an enhanced security, increase our resilience to take up the challenges within and equally see that education becomes paramount to the development of our students, and schools. He added that Anambra is the fourth state to launch the school protection squad.
Also speaking, National Coodinator, Schools Protection Squad, CP lanre Ogunlowo disclosed that in recent years Nigeria have faced major security challenges including attacks on schools leading to closure school, drop out and low motivation of students.
“The Nigeria govt have upheld a security measure by introducing the SPS on Dec 2019. In order to ensure maximum security, the minister of finance created sources of funding to ensure that the activities are achieved. The federal goverment also developed a finance plan for state and local governments. Including national safety and violent free schools were formally introduced in December 2022.
“Today this event will strengthen the police for security consciousness among students, teachers and the schools on general as well as tackling the out of school children. As well as create an effective surveillance in school and ehance security measure they will be able to bring peaceful coexistence and provide attention to attacks on schools”.
Speaking at event, the Anambra state Governor, Prof Charles Soludo represented by his Deputy, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim commending the federal government on the recent Schools Protection Squad, SPS, initiative established through the Nigeria Police Force. He described the scheme as apt and proactive measure that will ensure safety in schools in the state and other parts of Nigeria.
Soludo while highlighting various achievements of his administration in the education sector, said that adequate security of students and teachers in schools across the state is paramount, and called for teachers, traditional rulers and other community heads to partner security agencies especially the Police, in the area of prompt and adequate information.
Earlier in an address, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun who spoke through the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 13 Headquarters Ukpo, Mr Godwin Aghaulor harped on the need for collective efforts in provision of the needed safety both in schools and the society at large.
He added that the security agencies are working assidously to ensure the protection of lives and property in the state is enhanced.
Igwe Okpuno, Engr S.I Okafor representing, the chairman traditional Rulers Council, HRH, Alfred Achebe (Agbogidi).
