Police Chief Assures Parents as 10,000 Volunteers Join School Safety Plan

(The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu. Photo Credit: TVC news)

Nigeria's police chief has assured parents that children are safe in schools across the country.

Inspector-General Olatunji Disu made the pledge during the launch of the Police Community Relations Committee's Safe School Initiative in Abuja on Thursday.

The initiative will deploy 10,000 volunteers nationwide to help secure schools.

CCTV cameras are being installed at schools, with the goal of expanding coverage to all six area councils in the Federal Capital Territory before rolling out nationwide.

The police have developed warning and response systems to help schools quickly alert security authorities to threats.

The PCRC chairman said the programme will focus on rural and remote schools which are most vulnerable.

The initiative will also protect teachers and work with community leaders, vigilante groups and other stakeholders to secure schools.

The launch comes after police raised concerns about possible attacks on schools and other vulnerable locations.

Intelligence indicated terrorist elements were moving through Katsina, Kaduna and towards Plateau State.

The police said suspected Islamic State West Africa Province operatives were conducting surveillance on potential targets, with planned attacks possibly timed with the resumption of the school year.

The Safe School Programme will remain a priority for the police and PCRC going forward.