Insecurity: Lagos schools on high alert

Fashola and Esan

Folashade Adebayo’s visit to schools in Lagos shows increased awareness on security matters

Schools in Lagos are reviewing their security measures to make pupils and staff safe at all times. This was the findings this week when our correspondent went to some public and private schools in the state.

Following the release of a video by the Boko Haram insurgents claiming responsibility for two explosions at a fuel depot in Apapa on Sunday, the reality of a possible Boko Haram infiltration has finally forced the hand of the Lagos State Government to issue security alert in public schools.

In an urgent meeting with head teachers and principals in the state on Monday, the government urged school authorities to take proactive measures in securing lives and property during school hours.

The third term examination was in progress when our correspondent visited the premises of the Ijaiye Ojokoro Senior High School, Tigbegbe Street, Ijaiye. The premises, accommodating two junior and two senior schools, were cocooned by a high fence. Driving into the school, our correspondent was mandated to register her name at the gate and wear the visitor’s tag. However, no checks were conducted on the vehicle.

Attempts to speak with the authorities were rebuffed. Citing civil service rules, the principals of the four schools declined to speak on the security arrangements in place at the school.

However, a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said both pupils and staff of the school had heightened security awareness.

“You can see things for yourself. The pupils and staff here have been told to question any stranger within the school premises. If I had seen you without the visitor’s tag, it would have meant trouble for the security men at the gate.

Even before the meeting was called there is this Service Charter that has to do with security in public schools in the state. We have been given the telephone numbers of Divisional Police Officers around here. So, there is no reason for any military officers to invade here. If anything like that happens, we know what to do immediately,’’ said the source.

The same routine played out at Sonmori Senior Comprehensive High School, Ogba on Thursday. In spite of the heavy rain, uniformed security men at the gate insisted our correspondent register her name. Again, no routine checks were conducted on the vehicle.

It was noted that the environment was secured with a tall perimetre fence. By 10:40 am, the third term examination was also in progress. But the principal of the school, identified as Mrs. O.O. Adewale by her name tag, declined to speak with our correspondent. She also referred to the civil service rule and maintained she did not want to get into trouble with the state government.

Further down at the Local Government Primary School, Agege, a lady who manned the gate had no register for visitors. As pupils flocked the field enjoying the break period, she merely showed the direction to the headmistress’ office who in turn declined making any comment.

“You need to go to our district. I can’t make any comment. It is not allowed,’’ she said.

In spite of the blackout on the media however, it was noted that security has been generally beefed up across public schools in the state. With an estimated population of 18 million people, numerous motor parks and shopping malls, speculations about the state being a possible target for insurgents have been rife for a while. The state may have had instances of bomb explosions; but it has been largely spared of sustained attacks. However, a warning from the United States government in May this year, about possible attacks on Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Lagos, had shattered the seeming invincibility of the state to any terrorist attacks. On its website, the U.S had warned its citizens to steer clear of the hotel, a development that drew the ire of the Lagos State government.

More than two months after the warning, the attack has yet to happen. But, the admission on Sunday by Abubakar Shekau, leader of the Boko Haram sect, claiming responsibility for two bomb blasts at a fuel depot in Apapa on April 25 appeared to be the last straw that broke the camel’s back.

In the video, Shekau said, “A bomb went off in Lagos. I ordered (the bomber) who went and detonated it. You said it was an ordinary fire, but it was me in the fire.

Our correspondent learnt that the State Government took Shekau’s admission seriously, prompting security review in many of the state’s ministries, departments and agencies.

At the emergency meeting with principals and head teachers on Monday, the Special Adviser to the governor on Education, Mr. Fatai Olukoga, warned the attendees not, “to allow any strange person or occurrences happen within their school without challenging such a person and at the same time reporting on such activity to the appropriate security agency that are better trained and equipped to handle such an occurrence.’’

Olukoga also warned principals of boarding schools across the state to be more circumspect on who they release any pupil to at the end of the term. “I wish to specifically charge Principals of boarding schools not to release their pupils to anybody that is unknown to them and the child, even the drivers, except their parents.’’

The Head of Service, Mrs. Josephine Williams, however, maintained that the measures should not be tied to any occurrence whatsoever. She said the meeting was called in the light of what is happening in other states.

According to her, the meeting, “was not informed by any imminent security breaches in the state but the need for people to be security-conscious at this particular time in the nation’s development cannot be overemphasised.’’

Attempts to speak with the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, were unsuccessful on Thursday as she was said to be in a meeting. However, in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, the public relations officer of the ministry, Mr. Jide Lawal, said the position of the Ministry was the same as expressed by Williams and Olukoga.

“I can tell you that the meeting was not called as a result of Boko Haram’s claims. The commissioner for education was not present at the meeting because she was out of the country. The Head of Service was directed by the state government. The commissioner would also echo that,’’ he said.

It was also learnt that gospel of school safety has also spread to private schools in the state. In an interview with our correspondent, the Principal, Ronik Comprehensive College, Ejigbo, revealed that security authorities at the school have always be security conscious.

“We have always put safety first in this college. Aside from the internal security officials, we have people from a private security outfit around. We have deployed closed circuit television around the schools. We have also had meetings with the police command close to us and we will continue to drum it into the ears of pupils and staff to be security conscious. Our premises are surrounded with a fence and iron bar and it is impossible for any pupil or anybody to scale the fence. We also do routine checks on vehicles and persons,’’ she said.

Also, the chairman, Association of Private Educators in Nigeria, Mrs Olufemi Ogunsanya, said a seminar had been organised for private schools registered under APEN. “It is an ongoing thing and we are not going to relent. We have conducted seminars for our schools to be security conscious. It is an issue we take seriously,’’ she said.

The principal, Dansol High School, Mr. Oladapo Esan, Ogba, is also of the opinion that security matters in schools across the state should be given priority. He added that his school has a private security outfit providing security services. “We also do not release pupils to strangers. There is a strict arrangement we follow when it comes to picking up pupils. We also do not leave out the power of prayers. We prayerfully watch over the pupils,’’ he added.