Lagos police urge school proprietors to enhance safety measures amid rising kidnapping threats

The Lagos State Police Command has intensified efforts to ensure the security of schools. During a recent stakeholder dialogue held at the command headquarters in Surulere, ACP Oladunni Ayoola, the Area Commander in charge of Area C, urged school managers to adopt enhanced safety measures, emphasizing the crucial role of technology in securing educational institutions.

Addressing a gathering of school proprietors, Ayoola expressed concern about the inadequate security measures in many schools across the state. He highlighted the necessity for schools to embrace technology, urging them to implement tracking systems for school buses and improve overall security infrastructure.

Furthermore, ACP Ayoola strongly advised against organizing events or taking students out of the school jurisdiction without proper police escort. He emphasized the directive received from the Force Headquarters, mandating the Lagos State Police Command to ensure the safety and security of all schools in the region.

During the dialogue, Ayoola stated, “It is for us to lecture them to let them know that you cannot organize any event or take your children out of the school jurisdiction without having a police escort with them because we have been directed from the Force Headquarters to ensure that all our schools are properly safe and secure. This means if you are a school manager, you must work with us to provide a safe school environment.”

The initiative aligns with the directives of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who launched a comprehensive program on school security on August 8, 2023. The state Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, passed on these directives to Area Commanders, prompting the security summit with school managers to address the urgent need for safe and secure learning environments.

Ayoola reassured school owners of the police’s commitment to their safety, stating that all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) would share their contact numbers with them.