Following the spate of insecurity, particularly in schools across the country, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Friday, 25 April 2025, launched the Nigeria Police Force School Protection Squad, SPS, in Edo State.
Egbetokun said the launch of the programme was part of efforts to ensure security and a conducive learning environment for teachers and students in the state.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum on the security of schools in Edo State and the training of the SPS, in Benin City, the Inspector General of Police described the initiative as a milestone in the force’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding educational institutions in the country.
Represented by AIG Zone 5, Benin, Salman Garba-Dogo, the police boss said the squad would serve as a rapid response and preventive unit.
He said the squad is specifically trained to work with school communities, assess threats, respond to emergencies, and build trust between students and law enforcement.
“Their role goes beyond protection. They will engage students, provide educational support on safety awareness and foster a culture of vigilance and partnership. Our goal is not just physical security but emotional reassurance for students, teachers, and parents alike.
“The initiative is developed in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education, government, and the parents-teachers association.
“This is a reflection of our belief that school safety is a shared responsibility that requires unity, vigilance, and compassion. Every child has the right to learn in an environment that is free from fear. We will not waver in our duty to protect that right,” he said.
Egbetokun, however, encouraged pupils, educators, and families to partner with the police, share concerns, report suspicious activities, and engage school officers, noting that “together, we can make our schools safer, stronger, and more resilient.”
In his speech to declare the occasion open, the Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, said his administration is aligning with the federal government’s school protection vision to implement effective strategies that would protect our children and educators.
Okpebholo, represented by his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, opined that the initiative would ensure that every child in Edo State can learn, grow, and thrive in a secure and nurturing environment.
He noted that education is not just a pillar of development, but a foundation upon which the future is built.
“So, as we seek to strengthen our educational system, we must first confront the escalating challenges threatening the safety of our children and their learning environments, which include schools.
“These challenges are not unique to Edo State; they are national in scope and therefore demand a coordinated and inclusive response as provided by this forum,” Okpebholo said.
He added: “To enhance security across our educational institutions, my administration has embarked on the construction of perimeter fencing for schools to provide physical protection.
“The state government has also deployed the state’s security corps to the grassroots to tackle security threats in our schools, provided mandatory guidance and counselling offices across schools with constant checks on students, among others.”
On his part, Commissioner of Police Abayomi Shogunle, who is the national coordinator of the SPS, described the initiative as a combative community peace strategy designed to protect schools, empower students, and build trust between law enforcement, educators, and families.
Shogunle disclosed that over 65 police officers from Edo State Command have been trained to respond and go on sensitisation regarding the school safety initiative across the three senatorial districts.
“What the IGP is trying to do is to get everybody involved, because it is safer and cheaper to prevent crime from happening rather than being reactionary to a security situation around schools,” he said.
He added that the force has a dedicated call centre for receiving calls from students, parents, teachers, and people in the Save Our Soul community to ensure that their calls are attended to no matter the time of day, all over the country.
The stakeholders’ meeting has as its theme, “Strengthening Security Resilience and Integration of Host Communities in the Protection of Education.”