The Federal Government on Monday identified schools vulnerable to threats, adding that it has plan to protect and enhance the safety of schools across the country.
Disclosing this in an interview with journalists at a one-day stakeholders’ meeting with the theme, ‘Strengthening Security Resilience and Integration of host communities in the Protection of Education’, the National Coordinator on Financing Safe Schools, Halima Iliya, harped on the essence of schools’ protection squad.
“We have the data for all the vulnerable communities which we have adequately planned for, we have written to all the states for them to take ownership and to provide information on all vulnerable communities, because, if you look at the geopolitical zones, they all have their peculiarity and we are ready.
“We are working with the intelligence body to provide us with threat analysis which we are aggressively working on,” Iliya explained.
Speaking on the Safe School Protection Squad (SPS), Iliya explained that the initiative is a key component of the National Safe School Response Coordination Centre’s broader security framework. He noted that it aligns with the police’s mandate as outlined in the national plan for school safety.
At the Force Headquarters, the National Coordinator and Commissioner of Police overseeing the SPS, CP Abayomi Shogunle, revealed that 60 officers are currently undergoing specialized training for deployment in Gombe State.
“This doesn’t mean that other officers in the state won’t respond to threats,” Shogunle clarified. “We have trained these personnel on early warning systems to ensure a proactive response, preventing security incidents before they happen.”
He emphasized that the creation of the SPS represents a strategic shift in how Nigeria addresses threats to its education sector, which has increasingly come under attack from bandits, insurgents, and other criminal elements.
The SPS will focus on surveillance, intelligence gathering, and rapid response around school environments. Additionally, the squad aims to build local resilience by integrating host communities into the overall security architecture.
“The initiative is being rolled out in phases, with Gombe State selected as one of the pilot locations,” Shogunle added.
Gombe State Commissioner of Police, Bello Yahaya, stressed the vital role of education in national development and the importance of ensuring safe learning environments.
“Education is the foundation of our country. Securing our schools is not just a priority—it’s a shared responsibility,” he said.
Representing Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, the state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Abdullahi Bello, affirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the SPS.
“The governor remains fully committed to the safety of our schools and communities and is ready to support the successful implementation of this initiative in Gombe,” he assured.
