The Ogun State Government says it has put all mechanism in place to ensure security of students around schools, as part of renewed efforts to protect them and maintain a calm and conducive academic environment across the state.

Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, said this at the inaugural meeting of the state steering committee on the Safe School Initiative, held at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun state capital.

Prof. Arigbabu, according to Mr. Lateef Ositelu, Information and Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Safe School Initiative, assured parents and guardians that there should be no cause for panic over reports of security threats circulating in some communities, adding that the government remained committed to providing adequate security for its citizens.

He urged parents to cooperate with the state government on security matters and avoid creating unnecessary tension that could lead to unwarranted school closures.

Responding to the temporary closure of some primary schools in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area namely; African Church Primary School, Ogbe Odukoko; St. James Anglican Primary School, Mushin Ore; OOLG Primary School, Akinlogun Erumbe; and OOLG Primary School, Magbon Etido, the Commissioner said the closures followed rumours of Fulani bandits in a community and an unverified report of a kidnapping incident linked to a company in the area.

Prof. Arigbabu, warned parents and stakeholders against initiating or encouraging self-imposed vacations or “sit-at-home” actions for pupils, saying such measures could seriously disrupt academic activities.

He confirmed that the state had deployed additional security personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Police Force, the Amotekun Corps ’nd other security outfits, for tactical response across all 20 Local Government Areas, so as to ensure regular patrols, strengthened perimeter checks, stricter visitor screening and coordinated operations around the school premises.

The Commissioner urged parents and guardians in the affected communities in Obafemi Owode to allow their children to return to school, stressing that Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration is responsive and proactive in nipping security threats in the bud.

“We are committed to the well-being of our children and will continue to do more to ensure they study in a safe and conducive environment,” he said.

He added that the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology had directed school Principals to review internal safety protocols, conduct regular safety drills and maintain updated contact lists for parents and emergency services as part of measures to secure learners across the state.

The state Commissioner of Police, CP, Bode Ojajuni, had reassured parents of the safety of learners, noting that Ogun and Lagos state Commands recently launched “Operation Ko S'aye," a security network aimed at countering banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities.

The NSCDC Commandant in the state, represented by the Assistant Commandant of Corps and Head of the Safe School Project, Adedipe Mobolaji, and Mr. Ige Folayinka, of the National School Crime Prevention Corps (NSCPC), urged parents to cooperate with security agencies and allow pupils to return to classes as they pledged to increase intelligence-led patrol around vulnerable institutions and provide a rapid response to incidents across the state.

The Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu (middle), the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Dr. Lukmon Kiadese (2nd right), the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, AIG Olusola Subaru Rtd (1st left), the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni (2nd left), the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Oluwatosin Oloko (1st right) during the inauguration of the Safe School Steering Committee in conformity to the directive of the Hon. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa at the Ministry of Education’s Room, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.