The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Thursday, has unveiled the Schools Protection Squad (SPS) in Kano state.
The squad is to protect schools and learning facilities and students/pupils and their teachers from abductors and armed bandits, police said.
Mohammed Gumel, the Commissioner of Police, inaugurated 60-man squad at the police command headquarters, Kano.
Gumel said the SPS was an initiative of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Ebegtokun, to adequately provide a safe environment for schooling and protect both the students and teachers as well as the schools’ facilities and their critical infrastructures.
“The SPS comprised 60 adequately trained police personnel who have been provided with the necessary kits and tools for the task.
“They will from today, Thursday, May 2, 2024, be dispatched to intensify robust patrols around all primary and secondary schools, including all vulnerable tertiary institutions in all locations across each senatorial district of the state,” he said.
The police commissioner gave an explanation of how the 60-officer squad was prepared for potential terrorist invasions and assaults by providing them with operational cars and advanced monitoring devices. The squad was trained in school policing and protection techniques in Abuja.
Gumel said in his statement that the 60 personnel are not enough to protect schools in the 44 local government areas and the metropolitan city of Kano, but such squads will be duplicate to get enough officers for the protection of schools as directed by the police inspector general.
