The Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday launched the School Protection Squad to lead the fight against attacks on schools and ensure the safety of students and teachers in Gombe state.
According to the National Coordinator and Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of the SPS, Dr Abayomi Shogunle, no fewer than 60 officers have been deployed to lead in the fight against the incessant attacks which has disrupted learning and leading to the killing and disappointment of many in parts of the country.
“We have not heard or record an attack on students in schools in Gombe state, that is a good thing. However, one of the idea of the SPS is to be proactive in preventing the attacks, rather than being reacting to incidents after they have occured,” the Coordinator said.
He explained that officers deployed for SPS comprises of specially trained officers and that the initiative is part of the broader Safe School Initiative being coordinated by the National Safe School Response Coordination Centre (NSSRCC) to combat the rising threat on educational institutions.
He added that the officers, drawn from various units of the force, have undergone intensive training in school safety protocols, crisis response, and community engagement, stating that the SPS is tasked with proactive patrols, intelligence gathering, and rapid response to threats within and around schools across Gombe state.
He said, “We need more of collaborative and collaboration with between all agencies and stakeholders, any act of rivalry is a plus for the enemy of the state, therefore we should collaborate more to be able to tackle this challenge with a common front. The 60 officers deployed are to lead other officers and inter agency collaboration, it does not mean that other officers and Police will not respond or contribute to the fight”.
On her part, National Coordinator of the NSSRCC, Hajiya Halima Iliya, had earlier stated that one of the objectives of the National Plan on Financing Safe Schools is to strengthen security resilience and integration of host communities in the Protection of education.
Iliya harped the recognition of the gap in physical security, in and around schools and host communities, “a near absence of rapid response infrastructure, and poor levels of security awareness among school administrators and other critical stakeholders,” assuring that the plan has incorporated a multi-level approach to providing responsive security coverage for host communities, schools, and other learning places.
While calling on stakeholders in Gombe to leverage the partnerships and partner more with a shared commitment in addressing the challenges, the coordinator said, “As we journey together on this noble path, we hold the firm belief that every school can be made a safe school.”
