Ogun intensifies school protection with fencing, surveillance, Police collaboration

Michael Olumide

Ogun State Government has activated the Safe School Initiative in compliance with the Federal Government’s directive, unveiling a comprehensive security strategy aimed at protecting students, teachers and other school personnel from the growing wave of insecurity affecting educational institutions across Nigeria.

The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abayomi Arigbabu, disclosed this during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, on Wednesday.

According to the commissioner, the initiative is being implemented through a multi-stakeholder approach involving security agencies, host communities and relevant government institutions to ensure schools across the state remain safe learning environments.

Arigbabu explained that the state had already established a Safe School Committee to coordinate the implementation of the programme and strengthen existing security measures across public schools.

He said the committee aligns with the Federal Government’s nationwide Safe School Initiative and brings together critical stakeholders responsible for ensuring effective security coordination.

“That’s the national directive by the Honourable Minister of Education that we should activate the Safe School Initiative in all states of the federation in line with what the Federal Government is doing.

So, we have set up a Safe School Committee which comprises various organs participating with us in the Safe School Initiative,” he said.

The initiative comes at a time when insecurity has increasingly targeted schools across Nigeria, with several incidents of kidnappings and attacks heightening concerns among parents, teachers and education stakeholders.

Arigbabu noted that while security remains a national responsibility, Ogun State has continued to develop complementary measures designed specifically to protect schools.

He explained that one of the key components of the initiative is the phased fencing of public schools across the state.

According to him, the government has already carried out assessments and cost estimates for schools lacking perimeter fences, noting that although fencing alone cannot completely eliminate security threats, it remains an important protective barrier.

“We have programmes towards taking schools without fences in phases. We have done estimates and the cost implications because many schools do not have fences. Providing fences is one phase. It is not the complete solution because fences can be scaled or damaged, but they still serve as important barriers,” he stated.

The commissioner also revealed that principals and head teachers have been directed to establish close working relationships with nearby police formations to ensure rapid emergency response whenever security concerns arise.

He said school administrators now maintain direct communication with Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), while regular security review meetings are held between school authorities and security agencies.

According to him, the Office of the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor is coordinating broader security interventions involving the police, the Amotekun Corps and other security organisations across the state.

“All heads of schools have been directed to register their schools with nearby police stations and have direct contact with the DPOs. Regular meetings are also held to review security issues.

“In some schools, you will find police officers stationed close to the premises or at the entrances. However, it is not possible to deploy policemen and Amotekun personnel to every school because security personnel are equally needed within the wider communities,” Arigbabu explained.

He added that surveillance operations, regular security patrols and active community participation remain central pillars of the Safe School Initiative.

According to him, increasing public awareness has made residents more security conscious, encouraging them to question unfamiliar individuals and promptly report suspicious movements within their communities.

“Surveillance is part of the initiative. Patrols are ongoing, while community leaders have been organising meetings to strengthen local vigilance.

“People have become more security conscious. When strangers are seen around communities, residents now ask questions, making it difficult for anyone with criminal intentions to operate unnoticed,” he said.

Arigbabu further assured residents that schools located in rural and border communities, which are generally considered more vulnerable to attacks, are receiving special security attention.

He cited a recent visit to schools in the Yewa axis, where he observed increased deployment of police officers and Amotekun personnel around educational facilities.

“Rural schools are receiving more attention. I visited one of the schools in Yewa last week and saw police officers and Amotekun personnel providing security. The security arrangement there is different from what you find in urban centres because these communities are more vulnerable to security threats,” he said.

The commissioner reaffirmed the Ogun State Government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and creating an environment where teaching and learning can continue without fear.

The activation of the Safe School Initiative is expected to strengthen security infrastructure across schools, reassure parents and education stakeholders, and complement ongoing national efforts to protect educational institutions from criminal attacks and other security threats.