Turkish College: IG to launch ‘Safer Schools Initiatives’

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, yesterday, disclosed that the police will soon launch a security programme tagged, ‘Safer Schools Initiatives,’ to check kidnapping in schools.

According to the Idris, the programme will entail top policemen, including him, collaborating with school authorities and brainstorming with principals.

Revealing that crack teams of policemen were already on the trails of kidnappers that stormed the Nigeria Turkish International College in Isheri, Ogun State on Friday, abducting eight people, including three students, Idris said the fleeing kidnappers would soon be arrested and the victims rescued.

He recalled that kidnappers, who dared to abduct students from schools in Lagos last year, were arrested and the students rescued.

The IG spoke through his Force Spokesman, Mr. Don Awunah.

Awunah said: “Already, the IG is looking at what we call the ‘Safer Schools Initiatives.’ Don’t forget that those who kidnapped students in a school in Lagos some time ago were all arrested by the police. We shall get these ones too!  The IGP is looking at collaborating with schools and principals. This is why he’s coming up with the ‘Safer Schools Initiatives.’ Part of the programme would entail police doing a security analysis of the areas where the schools are located.  The entry and exit points of the schools would be looked at. But we are being careful not to make students apprehensive. When students see armed policemen stationed in schools, they may become apprehensive, we don’t want that. There are other ways. We wouldn’t want them to think or feel the school is under siege. We don’t want to send the wrong message. A school must be friendly.”

Speaking on the influx of dislodged Boko Haram members into different parts of the country, especially Lagos State, Idris noted that policemen were already on top gear to check such influx and arrest the fleeing terrorists.

Awunah said: “The IG has directed all the intelligence arms of the police to look out for any of these Boko Haram members. And all the tactical teams are working towards that end. We’re also working together with the Nigerian army and Department of State Security (DSS). It’s an issue of national security. We are working assiduously. We’re sharing intelligence.”

Asked if police had arrested any fleeing Boko Haram member, in any state since they started fleeing, Awunah said: “When we arrest, we do a lot of investigation and background checks. We don’t rush into labeling people. We, however, can’t stop immigration of people.”