CDS, General Musa, Other Service Chiefs Commend Ag. IGP Egbetokun Over Launch of Safe School Initiative SOP Manual

CDS, General Musa, Other Service Chiefs Commend Ag. IGP Egbetokun Over Launch of Safe School Initiative SOP Manual

The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Gwabin Musa has commended the Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, over the launch of Standard Operating Procedure Manual for a safer and more secured teaching and learning environment for school children across the country.

General Musa who was represented by Air Vice Marshal Anthony Ndache, in his goodwill message noted that the launch of the SOP is apt and that the IGP finds it necessary to invite relevant stakeholders to the forum to ensure cooperation and collaboration to create a safer and more secured teaching and learning environment for school children across the country 

He said, the resolve by criminals/terrorists to target schools across the country with the sole aim of destabilizing the Nigeria educational system calls for proactive steps to be taken to stem the tide.

“I will therefore call on all relevant stakeholders to play their roles in ensuring safe education for our children. On our part, I promise that the Armed Forces of Nigeria AFN is readily available to support the NPF in this good and worthy endeavor. “he said.

The CDS said the abduction of the Chibok school girls on the 14 April 2014 set pace for the numerous mass abductions of school children and the national and global responses that followed the action. Thus, the FGN launched the Safe Schools Initiative (SSI) in May 2014 to enable children affected by conflicts and insecurity, continue with their education unhindered.

He added that this followed the Safe Schools Declaration (SSD) developed at the International Conference held in Oslo, Norway in May 2015, and currently, many children are out of school due to attacks on the schools by criminals/terrorists. The spate of these attacks on schools and the mass kidnappings of school children presented a grave threat to the nation’s educational system. 

In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja ably represented by Brigadier General GO Osho congratulate the Inspector General of Police on this laudable initiative to host his prophetic forum on one of the key security issues facing our dear country, Nigeria. 

The COAS said in the journal, police is known for its reputation as the first respondent in ensuring public order and safety in this regard, this strategic national Forum under protection of Schools and other learning places in Nigeria and also launching of the standard operating procedure. 

He reiterated that the Nigerian Army appreciate his continued partnership and collaboration in ensuring that workable solutions to the security challenges faced by the country are being achieved which show Nigeria’s willingness for sustained partnership to enhance national security and development. 

In his goodwill message, the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla ably represented by Commodore SM Ahmed, reaffirmed that the Nigerian Navy is not isolated from the same threat as welfare schools and institutions are not left out this print. Nonetheless, Nigerian Navy under the leadership of the current administration will collaborate with relevant stakeholders to reduce the activities of these criminal elements. 

“Accordingly, I strongly believe that IT collaborative efforts of the Nigerian police and other keys institution would yield an index solution.  

“The partnering approach as well as interagency cooperation between the Nigerian police and other stakeholders underscores the multidimensional approach to this existential threats and the need for agency of government to play a key role to fight to this menace, he stressed. 

The safety of Nigerian schools and educational institutions is of key concern to the Nigeria police Force, which will continue to use all available human and material resources to mitigate the heightened danger students, staff and educational facilities/Institutions are exposed to in the country in recent times.

SpyeTV News reports that the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun recenlty launched the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Manual at Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja to achieve safe schools and in order to have a more focused and robust response to the existing challenge of constant attacks on educational institutions, culminating in abduction of students in Nigeria.

Dignitaries at the launching were Senate President, Senator Godswin Akpabio ably represented by Senator Ahmed Malla Maduri, Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, Governor Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, represented by the Chief of Kaduna State government, Alhaji Sani Kila (Rtd), Comptroller General of Immigration, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court represented by Pius Iorzua, the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa ably represented by Air Vice Marshal Anthony Ndache, Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja ably represented by Brig. General GO Esho, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla ably represented by Commodore SM Ahmed, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar,  Chairman Police Service Commission IGP Solomon Arase (Rtd) and many Others.