Police beam searchlight on hills, bushes, swamps to flush out criminals in Abuja

…As Police, NSCDC, others commence training for school security

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has said that the police and other security agencies have commenced training for Coordinators of the Safe School Security initiative as well as for Divisional Police Officers across the country to drive the protection of schools.

Towards this end Egbetokun’s said the Nigerian Police Force in conjunction with other security agencies has activated the establishment of the Schools Protection Squad across the states of the federation.

He sooke in Abuja at the stakeholders’ forum on the security of schools in the Federal Capital Territory held at the Police Resource Centre.

The IGP who was represented by DIG in charge operations, Ede Ayuba Epkeji, said, “The Federal Government makes it a top priority to protect schools through the safe schools’ project and secure learning environment for national development.

“In the same vein, the Nigeria Police Force embraced the project by establishing the Schools Protection Squad in all the states of the federation and the FCT, as well as training of State Coordinators and Divisional Police Officers nationwide.

“The Force is also undertaking a series of activities in line with Safe Schools’ national plan to guarantee a safer learning environment”.

He emphasised the inclusion of stakeholders in host communities to secure schools across the country.

According to him, “The inclusion of critical stakeholders such as the host communities, community/religious leaders, youth organizations, CSOs, sister security agencies and the FCT Administration, is the realization of the important role they play in safeguarding our schools and the reduction of out of school children in the FCT and the nation at large

“The police recognise the invaluable contribution of host communities in schools’ protection, hence the need for their support. It is on this premise that I solicit continuous support and cooperation from all to collaborate effectively and prevent attacks on our schools.”

FCT Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh in his address said the command was presently closing the gaps of all ungoverned spaces in Abuja with a view to denying criminals, freedom of action and threats to the citizens.

While assuring parents that schools in FCT would be prevented from attack the CP said the police would take the fight to the criminals’ camps to make the nation’s capital safe.

He said, “The FCT Police Command of the Nigerian Police Force will stop at nothing to ensure that the security architecture of the FCT is further improved at all times as we are increasingly reducing the unpoliced spaces across the Federal Capital Territory and its environs.”

“The command will also take the fight to the hills and other criminal hideouts of the underworld, swamps, and valleys, making the FCT safer for all residents.”