Kano govt, police launch Safe School Initiative to curb student kidnappings

The newly created Safe School Project by the Nigeria Police Force has secured a major endorsement from the Kano State Government, with the state giving its full commitment to ensuring the project’s success.

The state has already taken proactive steps toward ensuring the safety of its schools by collaborating with the police, who are the major stakeholders in the project’s full implementation.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf stated that his administration is strengthening security resilience and integrating host communities in the protection of education, using the Safe School Police Module.

Governor Yusuf disclosed this during the opening ceremony of the Stakeholders’ Forum on the Security of Schools in Kano State and the Training of the Schools Protection Squad, held at Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano.

Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Ali Haruna Makoda, the governor reassured stakeholders of his administration’s commitment to developing the educational sector in the state.

He noted that as Nigeria continues to face challenges in ensuring school safety, the forum marks a crucial step towards strengthening security resilience and promoting a safer learning environment.

Commissioner of Police Abayomi Shogunle, National Coordinator of the Schools Protection Squad, emphasized the importance of school security, stating that it is a priority for the current administration.

He explained that the Schools Protection Squad was initiated by the Inspector General of Police, IGP, to address security challenges in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions.

“In 2021, reports indicated that between 2012 and 2016, over 600 teachers were killed in attacks, while more than 19,000 were displaced,” he added.

In his remarks, Prof Musa Tukur Yakasai, Vice Chancellor of Aliko Dangote University, commended the training, describing it as timely and aimed at enhancing security in educational institutions.

Earlier, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, represented by AIG Zone One, Ahmad Ammani, stressed the importance of collaboration between the public and security agencies in tackling insecurity in schools and other institutions.

The forum, themed “Strengthening Security Resilience and Integration of Host Communities in the Protection of Education,” brought together representatives from the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, and educational institutions, among others.

The event was attended by heads of security agencies in Kano and other stakeholders, including vigilante groups and other self-help security organizations.