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.
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