States Roll Out Plans To Protect Children As Schools Resume

BY Francis Okoye, NICHOLAS DEKERA, ABU NMODU, ATTAH ANTHONY, INIOBONG EKPONTA, EKPONTA, EMMANUEL MGBEAHURIKE, Babaji Usman Babaji, Nnamdi Mbawike, IBRAHIM OBANSA, Adebayo Waheed, GODWIN ENNA, RICHARD NDOMA, Okem Green Mbah, Muh’d Zangina Kura, Angela Nkwo-Akpolu, ABIODUN SIVOWAKU,  Jonathan Nda-Isaiah

As schoolchildren resume academic activities after the holidays, state governments across the country have introduced various measures to safeguard pupils, students and teachers, while some have established committees and strengthened security arrangements to protect schools from bandit attacks and other threats.

Borno Strengthens Security Protocols

In Borno State, the Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, told LEADERSHIP that the protection of children remained a priority, with a committee established to address school safety.

He said the state government was complying with the federal government’s Safe School Initiative and had put security protocols in place for schools across the state.

According to him, schools that could not meet the required security standards because of their distance or remote locations would have their pupils and students relocated to better-protected schools.

He said the security protocols included proper fencing and fortification of school premises, as well as the deployment of a combination of security personnel from the military, police and other security agencies.

The agencies, he added, would work together, sharing resources and intelligence to ensure the safety of schools and children.

Zamfara Deploys Multi-layered Security

As schools across Zamfara State reopen for the new academic session, the state government says it has activated multi-layered security arrangements to protect pupils, teachers and school infrastructure.

The move follows years of disruption caused by bandit attacks and mass abductions, which previously forced the closure of several schools in rural communities. With thousands of students returning to classrooms, authorities hope improved security will restore confidence, boost enrolment and ensure uninterrupted learning.

The state has categorised schools according to their level of risk, with those in border local government areas, including Anka, Bukkuyum, Maru and Tsafe, receiving priority attention.

In collaboration with the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Zamfara Community Protection Guards, joint patrols have been intensified around school clusters, particularly boarding facilities.

The Ministry of Education has also directed principals to reactivate safety committees, conduct emergency drills and establish direct lines of communication with nearby security formations.

Traditional rulers and local vigilantes have equally been mobilised for intelligence gathering and early warning on suspicious movements around schools.

The special adviser to the governor on Security Matters, retired DIG Ahmad Zannah, said prevention remained the government’s strategy.

“Rapid response teams have been positioned in flashpoints, and we are integrating intelligence from all security agencies to ensure schools remain safe throughout the session,” he said.

Despite the assurances, education stakeholders said sustained funding and adequate infrastructure would determine the success of the measures.

The Zamfara chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers urged the government to provide perimeter fencing, functional communication equipment and psychosocial support for pupils affected by previous attacks.

Some parents in Gusau and Maradun who spoke to LEADERSHIP welcomed the increased security presence but called for consistency in its deployment.

Niger Relocates Pupils From High-risk Areas

In Niger State, schools in bandit-prone areas were temporarily closed before the end of the last term following the mass abduction of students and teachers in the state last year.

It was learnt that stakeholders would meet during the week to devise strategies for ensuring the safety of students and staff as schools resume.

The state government has also announced the closure of some schools and relocated students to safer institutions. Perimeter fences have been constructed around public schools, while security has been strengthened along routes leading to them.

Attempts to speak with the Commissioner for Homeland Security, Barrister Maurice Justin Magaji, were unsuccessful, while the Commissioner for Basic Education, Dr Hadiza Asabe Mohammed, could not be reached.

Taraba Moves Away From Boarding Schools

In Taraba State, the Commissioner for Secondary, Technical and Vocational Education, Dr Augustina Godwin, assured parents and guardians that the safety of students was a major priority as schools prepared to resume.

She said the government had introduced measures to minimise security risks and provide a safe learning environment.

According to her, the decision to move away from boarding facilities was deliberate and aimed at reducing students’ vulnerability to kidnapping and other security threats.

She added that security personnel had previously been deployed to some schools, particularly in Jalingo, during resumption exercises.

The commissioner said the government had also strengthened intelligence gathering, early-warning mechanisms and community participation, while improving collaboration with security agencies through its security advisory structures.

These measures, she explained, were designed to ensure the timely identification of and response to threats around schools.

She further said the Ministry’s Inspectorate and Quality Assurance structures would continue to monitor secondary and technical institutions to ensure compliance with safety and operational standards.

The ministry, she added, was also working with the Ministry of Health to monitor emerging health concerns affecting children in other states and maintain adequate preparedness in Taraba.

Akwa Ibom Assures Parents Of Security

Ahead of the resumption of private and public schools next week, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command has assured residents of adequate security, particularly around crime-prone schools in riverine communities.

The Commissioner of Police, Babs Azare, said operatives had been directed to remain on alert for security breaches around schools and other public assets.

The command urged residents, particularly those in riverine communities and surrounding areas, to remain calm and report any security breach or emergency promptly to enable a swift response.

The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ubong Essien, also expressed the commitment of the Governor Umo Eno-led administration to safeguarding the lives of students and residents.

According to him, education and security remain vital components of the state government’s ARISE Agenda.

Imo Strengthens Community Security

With schools set to resume, the security situation in Imo State appears to have improved, as security agencies, in collaboration with the state government and local communities, have introduced measures to address insecurity.

Various communities have established vigilante groups to patrol their localities and deter criminal activities, while the state government has established the Imo Security Network to strengthen community security.

The chief press secretary to the governor, Hon. Oguwike Nwachuku, said peace and tranquillity were gradually returning to communities across the state.

He said the state security outfits were working with the police and other security agencies to adopt proactive measures against criminal activities.

“As you are aware, we have inaugurated state security outfits in the various communities, and they are working in collaboration with the police and other security operatives,” he said.

The Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, also held a security meeting last Friday with heads of security agencies in the state on the safety of children in schools and security during the ember months.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, said the security agencies were prepared to safeguard lives and property, while urging residents to provide timely information to security operatives.

“We are assuring parents, guardians and children that security agencies are fully prepared. We appeal to people to give operatives timely information. If you see something, please say something,” Okoye said.

The renewed security measures come against the backdrop of a recent incident in which gunmen killed a bank regional manager inside the Federal University of Technology, Owerri campus after he reportedly resisted an attempt to kidnap him.

Attempts to obtain a reaction from the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Declan Emelumba, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls.

Gombe Set For Resumption

Schools across Gombe State are set to resume for the new academic session, with no reported threat considered serious enough to prevent the scheduled September 14 resumption.

The Commissioner for Education, Professor Aisha Maigari, did not respond to inquiries abouunansweredt the government’s preparedness. Calls and messages sent to her had gone  as of press time.

Some pupils and students who spoke with LEADERSHIP expressed readiness to resume classes.

Mansir Shuaibu, a pupil at Jekadafari Junior Secondary School, said that although the state had not announced any school closures over security threats, sustained monitoring and adequate security around schools remained important.

He said such measures were necessary to enable pupils, students and teachers to carry out academic activities without fear.

Enugu Adopts Community And Technology-based Security

Ahead of the resumption of schools in September, the Enugu State Ministry of Education, in coordination with security agencies and local government councils, has introduced several measures to ensure safety and quality learning.

The state government has charged traditional institutions, presidents-general of communities and local government chairmen with taking active responsibility for school security within their respective political wards.

The administration’s technology-driven security strategy, supported by a multi-billion-naira investment in CCTV cameras, drones and command-and-control centres, is also being extended to school environments.

The Commissioner for Education, Professor Ndubueze Mbah, assured parents, teachers and students of adequate security and thorough preparations ahead of resumption.

Kogi Parents Raise Fresh Security Concerns

In Kogi State, ŵconcerns over the safety of students and teachers have resurfaced following recent attacks on secondary schools in parts of the state.

The concerns followed the invasion of Government Secondary School, Iluke, in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, and another secondary school by suspected bandits.

Although the attackers who invaded the Iluke school were unable to abduct any students, the incident heightened concerns among parents and other stakeholders about the vulnerability of schools, particularly those in remote and hard-to-reach communities.

The situation became more worrisome after suspected bandits reportedly attacked a school along the Idah-Dekina axis, abducting some students writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and some of their teachers.

With schools expected to reopen shortly, parents have urged the Kogi State Government to strengthen security around schools and provide adequate protection for students and teachers.

A parent, Nda Momoh, appealed to the government to pay particular attention to schools in vulnerable communities, saying parents needed assurances that their children would be safe while pursuing their education.

He urged the government not to wait for attacks to occur before deploying security personnel and other protective measures around schools.

However, the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara, allayed the fears of parents, students and other stakeholders, assuring them that the government was fully prepared to safeguard schools across the state.

He said that security agencies were working ¹ trips and sports competitions to minimise exposure to security threats.

The chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Nureni Adeniran, assured parents, teachers and the state government of the board’s preparedness to provide the necessary security measures in schools.

The calls for vigilance come against the backdrop of the May 15 attack on schools in Ahoro-Esinele community in Oriire Local Government Area, where about 39 students and seven teachers were abducted.

One of the teachers, identified as Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly beheaded by the attackers, while another teacher was killed during the raid.

Katsina Implements Safe Schools Policy

Schools in Katsina State are set to resume amid heightened security concerns and renewed efforts by the state government and security agencies to protect pupils, students and teachers.

The state, which has faced security challenges in some communities in recent years, is approaching the new academic session with measures aimed at preventing attacks and creating a safe environment for learning.

The Katsina State Government has domesticated the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools, with Governor Dikko Umaru Radda assuring that schools must remain safe havens for children.

The governor said security would not be treated as an afterthought but as a core component of the state’s education and security agenda.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Yusuf Jibia, said security had been strengthened, particularly in boarding schools, through the deployment of Mobile Police personnel, Community Watch Corps and vigilante groups.

According to him, between six and 10 Community Watch Corps personnel have been assigned to each school to work alongside other security agencies.

The Katsina State Police Command has also been assessing existing security structures in schools, including perimeter fencing, access-control points and security posts, while urging school authorities to report suspicious activities promptly.

Despite these measures, the return to classrooms comes against the backdrop of persistent security concerns in parts of Katsina, making vigilance by parents, teachers, communities and security agencies essential.

The state’s safe-schools policy provides a framework for protecting learners from kidnapping, violence and other threats, while the government is expected to sustain monitoring, particularly in vulnerable communities.

Cross River Cracks Down On Unsafe Schools

In Cross River State, security and overall preparedness have become major concerns for parents, teachers and school administrators.

Ahead of the resumption on Monday, the state government has continued its statewide crackdown on illegal and unapproved schools, recently sealing 13 institutions and 69 others during previous enforcement exercises across the Calabar, Ikom and Ogoja zones.

The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Stephen Odey, said some of the affected schools operated in environments considered unsuitable for children, with poor facilities and inadequate infrastructure.

He said the exercise would continue across all 18 local government areas until schools met the required standards.

Odey warned that any sealed school that reopened without meeting the stipulated requirements would face penalties.

He said the enforcement was not punitive but protective, adding that the ministry would continue working to ensure that schools met national standards and provided safe and conducive learning environments.

Any institution operating without an Authority to Operate or lacking a safe and conducive learning environment, he warned, would face immediate closure.

Bayelsa Focuses On School Safety And Awareness

Schools across Bayelsa State are reopening with renewed attention to the safety of pupils and students amid concerns over kidnapping, cultism, bullying, drug abuse and other threats to school communities.

The state has strengthened collaboration among education authorities, security agencies and community groups, with emphasis on prevention, emergency response and safer learning environments.

Parents and residents have continued to demand stronger security around schools, particularly in riverine communities where difficult terrain can make emergency response challenging.

The Commissioner for Education, Dr Gentle Emelah, said the ministry was prepared to strengthen collaboration with security agencies to ensure students’ safety.

Emelah spoke after receiving a delegation led by the Bayelsa coordinator of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), DSP Isimhen Iboi.

He said the partnership would focus on improving security awareness among students and school authorities, particularly on the risks of kidnapping and the need for vigilance within and around school premises.

Jigawa Deploys School Guards

The Executive Chairman of the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board, Professor Haruna Musa, said the state government was working with communities to strengthen school safety.

He said the state had established and equipped an office for the School Rapid Response Squad, an Inspector General of Police initiative aimed at improving school security.

The state government has also recruited more than 9,500 school guards in collaboration with private security companies to strengthen security and safety across basic, post-basic and higher institutions.

Parents Demand Stronger Protection

Across the country, parents and civil society groups have called on the federal and state governments, as well as school authorities, to strengthen security as children return to classrooms.

The calls follow a series of attacks and kidnappings targeting pupils, students and teachers, reinforcing concerns about the vulnerability of schools in several parts of the country.

Many children now live with the fear of abduction, while some of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted more than a decade ago remain in Boko Haram captivity.

In Lagos, a parent, Tumininu Ojelabi, said her child’s safety was one of her biggest priorities.

“Whenever he’s at school, I want the assurance that he’s in a safe and secure environment where he can learn and thrive without unnecessary risks,” she said.

She added that the security situation in the country made the issue particularly urgent and that safety strongly influenced her choice of school.

“Beyond academics and facilities, I pay close attention to the school’s security measures because I need to be confident that he is well protected while he’s away from home,” she said.

According to her, schools should have effective security systems, including controlled access to their premises, trained security personnel, emergency response procedures and clear communication channels with parents.

Lagos Police Beef Up Security

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command has reassured residents, parents, guardians and school authorities that it has strengthened security around schools across the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, who disclosed this to journalists in Lagos, said he had ordered an immediate security review and directed the increased deployment of personnel to schools, strategic locations and vulnerable communities as a precautionary measure.

Attacks on Schools Threaten Future of Nigerian Children — First Lady

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said attacks on schools, teachers and students threaten the future of children and communities.

Senator Tinubu stated this in a message to mark the 2026 International Day to Protect Education from Attack, observed on September 9, with the theme, “Education Can Survive Attack.”

She said the occasion serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility to ensure that every child can learn in safety and without fear.

“As an educationist, I know that a classroom is where potential is discovered, dreams take root, and hope is nurtured,” she said.

The First Lady added that every attack on a school, teacher or student poses a threat to the future of children and communities.

She called for greater unity in protecting schools, supporting teachers and safeguarding every child’s right to education.

“When we protect education, we preserve hope and secure our collective future,” she said.

Senator Tinubu wished Nigerians a happy International Day to Protect Education from Attack 2026.