Ekiti State Governor Mr Biodun Oyebanji lamented on Tuesday about what he termed the repeated activities of cult members and cybercrimes in all higher institutions in the state.
The Governor, represented by his Special Adviser on Security Matters, Brigadier Ebenezer Ogundana (rtd), spoke during a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Nigeria Police Strategic Forum.
The programme aimed to train the Schools Protection Squad (SPS) on the security of schools in Ekiti State.
The Governor particularly mentioned the state-owned Ekiti State University (EKSU), where cultism and cybercrimes are rampant. He promised that his government would continue to support security operatives and ensure their best performance in tackling the menace.
Oyebanji also urged school administrators in the state to redouble their efforts in curbing these issues, promising that his administration would continue to intensify its open-door policy to guarantee the safety of lives and property in the state.
Speaking further on the programme, themed “Strengthening Security Resilience and Integration of Host Communities in the Protection of Education,” Oyebanji commended the Nigeria Police Force for organising the squad. He noted that this measure would go a long way in tackling the incessant attacks on schools in the country.
Earlier, in his welcome address at the occasion, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Police, Mr Akinwale Adeniran, described the security of lives and property as a joint responsibility of both the government and the people in society.
The Ekiti State police command chief stated that the programme, which is an initiative and strategic intervention of the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, is geared towards guaranteeing the security of students and teachers, ensuring a safe and secure environment in all categories of schools across the country.
He explained that the programme, which will be launched in Niger, Ekiti State, and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, aims to end the attacks on schools.
The Ekiti State police chief expressed his delight that Ekiti State is one of the few states selected for the programme’s launch.
According to him, “the police, as the primary agent of government responsible for the protection of lives and property of citizens, in conjunction with the military, Civil Defence Corps, the South Western Security Network (Amotekun Corps), vigilante groups, local hunters, and other stakeholders, have implemented measures to safeguard students and their teachers.”
“It is my hope and expectation that this Strategic Forum will be educative and impactful, fostering the emergence of new ideas and mutual understanding for the benefit of our schools.”
The Commissioner mentioned some measures to be adopted by the squad as soon as operations begin in Ekiti State, including bush combing, community policing and engagement, timely communication, confidence building, and visibility patrols, among other strategies.
He noted that these measures were put in place in view of the threats of insecurity targeting school children and their teachers.
In his goodwill message, the Head of the Safe School Unit at Force Headquarters, Abuja, Mr Lanre Ogunlowo, stated that the move aims to ensure safe and conducive learning environments and tackle the menace of out-of-school children.