In a bid to strengthen security in educational institutions and prevent future attacks, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Oye-Ekiti, led the official launch of the School Protection Squad (SPS) under the theme “Strengthening Security Resilience and Integration of Host Communities in the protection of Education” at Adetiloye Hall in Ado-Ekiti. The initiative, financed by the Federal Government through the office of the Inspector General of Police, aims to foster proactive security frameworks through community participation, targeting schools vulnerable to emerging threats such as kidnappings, cultism, and organized armed groups.
The SPS initiative comes at a crucial moment for Ekiti, following a kidnapping incident earlier this year at the Apostolic Faith Nursery and Primary School in Emure-Ekiti, where five pupils and four staff members were abducted by gunmen demanding ransom. With rising insecurity disrupting education across Nigeria, Fasina stressed the need for proactive security measures to avoid the more expensive consequences of reactive policing. “Communities must be empowered as the first line of defence to report suspicious activities, identify crime facilitators, and protect the education sector,” Fasina asserted. His message was delivered through a paper titled The Role of Host Community Stakeholders in School Security, which was ably presented by Professor Adebola Adewunmi Aderibigbe, the Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor on Special Duties.
In collaboration with traditional rulers, local youth groups, and vigilante committees, the School Protection Squad aims to integrate community stakeholders into the security system. Schools will benefit from early warning systems, enhanced surveillance, and community-led patrols, ensuring safety for students and staff. Fasina concluded by emphasizing that “the success of this initiative depends on the collective efforts of host communities to prevent crime at its infancy.”
With the SPS initiative in place, the hope is to restore confidence in education and secure safe learning environments across Ekiti, reinforcing the government’s commitment to tackling insecurity and protecting the future of Nigerian children.
