Taiwo POPOOLA
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has assured Nigerians of the safety of schools across the country.
The IGP gave the assurance on Wednesday when he received Ambassador Jainaba Jagne, Special Envoy for Children Affected by Armed Conflict (CAAC), alongside an international delegation at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The visit was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the protection of schools and educational institutions across Africa.
It also formed part of a strategic study tour of the Nigeria Police Force Schools Protection Squad Command and Control Centre under the framework of the Safe Schools Declaration (SSD).
The delegation comprised representatives from Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, and Ethiopia, as well as officials of the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) and Save the Children International.
Speaking during the visit, Ambassador Jainaba Jagne commended the Nigeria Police Force for its commitment to school safety and noted that several African countries were looking to understudy and adapt the Nigerian Safe Schools model.
She stated that member states across the African Union had shown strong interest in Nigeria’s initiative as part of broader continental efforts to strengthen the protection of children and educational institutions affected by insecurity and armed conflict.
In his remarks, the Inspector-General of Police reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to the full implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration through sustained collaboration with educational authorities, development partners, and relevant stakeholders.
He stated that the Force would continue to deploy intelligence-led strategies, patrol operations, rapid response mechanisms, and technology-driven solutions to ensure the safety of schools nationwide.
IGP Disu expressed appreciation to the visiting delegation for recognising Nigeria’s efforts in advancing school security and child protection, while reiterating the readiness of the Nigeria Police Force to support collaborative regional initiatives aimed at strengthening educational safety across the African continent.
