The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has declared a state of emergency in schools across the country. This is as it trains a specialised female squad on sustainable measures and strategies to be employed in protecting schools nationwide, in its bid to proactively protect Nigeria’s educational institutions, and curtail security threats.
DCG Crisis and Disaster Management, Nnamdi Nwinyi, who represented the Commandant General, NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, during a two-day event in Abuja, noted that the workshop was apt, timely and important for the implementation of the Safe School Initiative of the Federal Government.
He stressed that the workshop came at a time the nation is facing security challenges, which necessitate the need for more pragmatic actions to whittle down the menace of insecurity in the country.
While commending the Squad for their efforts in repelling numerous kidnapping attempts on students and more importantly, keeping schools safe at all times, he hinted that the specialized female squad since its establishment has gained significant mileage against the ugly trend of the kidnapping of school children for ransom.
The CG representative charged the unit to remain focused, resilient and committed to the security of schools and protection of students, teachers and other workers.
He said, “The learning environment should be devoid of violence and crimes in order to attain educational excellence which is key to the growth and development of the nation.
“Nothing in the world could be so precious as our children, which is why we have declared emergency in this sector to mitigate the multi-faceted threats challenging the nation’s security architecture, especially attacks on institutions of learning by hoodlums, kidnappers and bandits.
“We have developed strategic plans and a robust template that will crystalise into more precise action to prevail over these hostilities and achieve sustainable safe schools in Nigeria.
“Note that the workshop is structured to expand your capacity as members of the Female Squad unit, you are therefore to compare notes, engage in critical thinking and come up with more robust templates to achieve sustainable safe schools in Nigeria”.
Nwinyi assured that schools would remain safe and conducive for Nigerian children as the Corps is intensively collaborating and cooperating with other security operatives in combating all forms of criminalities across the Country.
He charged participants at the workshop to take the lessons, skills and knowledge acquired during the training down to their colleagues and subordinates for effective discharge of duties.
In his remark, the Chief Executive Officer of Supersonic Limited, Frank Ohwofa, thanked the Commandant-General for granting his company the opportunity to facilitate the training and praised his foresight in creating the Specialised Female Squad.
He noted that the workshop was conceived to train the Female Squad Unit on new security trends and patterns employed by bandits and kidnappers for ransom.
He said, “The workshop will interrogate in-depth public emergency security systems that can be deployed by the Corps in collaboration with other stakeholders to effectively harness the kinetic assets of the Corps for maximum performance thereby, enhancing response time to violent incidents in places of learning.”
He stated that the workshop is consistent with the imperativeness to provide robust interventionist and proactive measures to mitigate the multi-faceted threats confronting the nation.
He described those chosen to lead in the fight against kidnappings and other forms of insecurity threatening safe learning environment in these trying moments in our nation’s history as patriots.
On the other hand, he charged participants to take advantage of the training to build on the training already acquired before now with a view to filling necessary gaps.
He advised them to at the end of the strategic Train-The-Trainer Capacity Building Workshop, domesticate the knowledge and skills acquired in their various State Command Headquarters.
He assured that, with the cream of experts available at the workshop, participants will leave the program sharpened, reinvigorated and better informed with new strategic planning tactics and execution of security protocols in schools.
He called on the Federal Government, state governments, proprietors of private school owners and all stakeholders in the education sector to give maximum support to the efforts of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps under the able leadership of the current Commandant-General for better security and protection of schools, students, teachers and workers nationwide.
