By Hassan Zaggi
In an effort to ensure that all schools across the country are safe, the Nigeria Police Force has launched what it christened Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) manual for Schools Protection Squad (SPS.).
It would be recalled that the Nigeria Police Force recently established Schools Protection Squad, a high-profile special unit for the protection of schools and educational institutions across the country,
To also ensure proper understanding of the initiative, the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has organized a workshop for all strategic police managers.
Speaking at the formal launch of the initiative, the IGP explained that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) manual is a comprehensive document that provides clear guidelines for the smooth operationalization of the Schools Protection Squad (SPS).
The manual, according to him, spells out the organizational framework of the unit, procedures for mobilization, and code of conduct for officers assigned to the unit.
The manual, he further explained, provides procedures for collaboration with other security agencies to ensure a coordinated approach in tackling threats to schools and educational institutions.
IGP Egbetokun enumerated some of the strategies to be employed by men and officers of the Force to achieve the mandate of the School Protection Squad to include the generation of information and development of intelligence, community policing partnerships, police-public cooperation, inter-agency collaboration, security and administration of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), deployment of logistic assets, humanitarian services, as well as training for school managers/teachers and members of the host communities on their roles in emergency situations.
The initiative, the IGP noted will commence with 18 pilot states which are more vulnerable, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He, however, assured that the Police will diligently undertake the responsibility of safeguarding educational institutions against potential harms and threats.
He, therefore, called on all stakeholders and indeed, all Nigerians to support the initiative to enable the police secure schools across the country and also achieve the mandate of the initiative.
