The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has assured parents that the Nigeria Police Force is taking steps to strengthen security around schools across the country.
Disu gave the assurance during the launch of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) Safe School Initiative in Abuja on Thursday.
The programme will see 10,000 volunteers deployed nationwide to support efforts to protect schools, teachers and students through community-based security measures.
The IGP, who was represented at the event by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, said the police had developed internal warning and response mechanisms to enable schools to quickly alert security authorities whenever potential threats emerge.
He said the initiative was particularly important given security concerns surrounding soft targets, including schools and places of worship.
The PCRC National Chairman, Mogaji Olaniyan, said the initiative was designed to strengthen community policing by involving community leaders, vigilante groups and other stakeholders in protecting educational institutions.
According to him, the 10,000 volunteers will focus particularly on schools in rural and remote communities considered vulnerable to attacks.
The committee has also commenced the deployment of CCTV surveillance cameras as part of efforts to improve monitoring around schools.
Olaniyan said the PCRC initially provided three cameras for schools in the Federal Capital Territory, while the FCT chapter would provide three additional cameras. The plan is to expand surveillance coverage across the six area councils of the FCT before extending the initiative nationwide.
He appealed to individuals and organisations to support the programme by providing CCTV cameras and other resources needed to strengthen security around schools.
The PCRC chairman also said the initiative would focus on protecting teachers and addressing social vices among young people through sustained engagement with pupils and students.
He added that the committee would establish stronger links between schools and former students who have become professionals, including lawyers and judges, to serve as mentors and role models.
Olaniyan said the PCRC had commenced consultations with community leaders, vigilante groups and other stakeholders ahead of the resumption of the 2026/2027 academic session.
The development comes after the police issued a security alert over intelligence concerning possible attacks on schools and other vulnerable locations. The police had said intelligence indicated that suspected terrorist elements were conducting surveillance of potential targets, although the reported threats had not been established as actual attacks.
The PCRC said the Safe School Programme would remain a priority as it works with the police and communities to strengthen intelligence gathering, surveillance and rapid response around educational institutions.
