Ogun tightens school security to ensure students’ safety

The Ogun State Government says it has implemented enhanced security measures around schools as part of renewed efforts to protect learners and maintain a calm, conducive academic environment.

Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abayomi Arigbabu, made this known at the inaugural meeting of the State Steering Committee on the Safe School Initiative.

He assured parents and guardians that there should be no cause for panic over reports of security threats circulating in some communities, added that the government remained committed to providing adequate protection for citizens.

The commissioner urged parents to cooperate with the state government on security matters and avoid creating unnecessary tension that could lead to unwarranted school closures.

Responding to the temporary closure of some primary schools in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area including African Church Primary School, Ogbe Odukoko; St. James Anglican Primary School, Mushin Ore; OOLG Primary School, Akinlogun Erumbe; and OOLG Primary School, Magbon Etido, the commissioner said the closures followed rumours of the presence of bandits in a community and an unverified report of a kidnapping incident linked to a company in the area.

Arigbabu warned parents and stakeholders against initiating or encouraging self-imposed vacations or “sit-at-home” actions for pupils, saying such measures could seriously disrupt academic activities.

He also confirmed that the state had deployed additional security personnel for tactical response across all 20 Local Government Areas to ensure regular patrols, strengthened perimeter checks, stricter visitor screening and coordinated operations with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,NSCDC, the Nigeria Police Force, the Amotekun Corps and other security outfits.

The commissioner urged parents and guardians in the affected communities in Obafemi Owode to allow their children return to school, stressing that Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration is responsive and proactive in nipping security threats in the bud.

“We are committed to the well-being of our children and will continue to do more to ensure they study in a safe and conducive environment,” he said.

He added that the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology had directed school principals to review internal safety protocols, conduct regular safety drills and maintain updated contact lists for parents and emergency services as part of measures to secure learners across the state.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, reassured parents of the safety of learners, noting that Ogun and Lagos State Commands recently launched “Operation Ko S’aye,” a security network aimed at countering banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities.

Meanwhile, the State NSCDC Commandant Remilekun Ekundayo, represented by the Assistant Commandant of Corps and Head of the Safe School Project, Adedipe Mobolaji, and Ige Folayinka, of the National School Crime Prevention Corps, NSCPC, urged parents to cooperate with security agencies and allow pupils to return to classes.

They pledged to increase intelligence-led patrol around vulnerable institutions and provide a rapid response to incidents across the state.