The Nigeria Police Force has launched a new security unit known as the Schools Protection Squad (SPS) to safeguard schools from terrorism, banditry, and other threats. The announcement was made at a stakeholders’ meeting on school safety held at the POWA Hall in Ikeja, Lagos.
The Inspector-General of Police, represented by AIG Adegoke Fayoade of Zone 2, stressed that school insecurity poses a serious risk to national development. He referenced a global report showing over 5,000 school-related attacks worldwide between 2020 and 2022, affecting more than 22,000 people across 28 countries.
Fayoade highlighted the long-term psychological effects of such attacks and their impact on education and peace. He noted that countries like the United States and Israel have successfully used a combination of law enforcement, technology, and community involvement to secure their schools—an approach Nigeria aims to follow.
The new squad will include specially trained officers who will work directly with school staff. The plan also includes modern surveillance tools such as CCTV cameras, perimeter fencing, and drone monitoring, especially for schools in isolated or high-risk areas.
Police commissioners across various zones have been directed to begin working with local stakeholders to roll out these safety measures.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Owohunwa Idowu, called the initiative timely and necessary, given the rise in school-related security incidents. He described schools as places that must remain safe and free from fear.
CP Idowu added that the new squad would not only focus on response efforts but also prevention through cooperation with parents, teachers, and community leaders.
The Police Force emphasized that securing schools is a collective duty and called on all stakeholders to support the effort to protect the country’s education system.
