The Kano State Police Commissioner, Hussaini Gumel, has directed Operational Commanders and Divisional Police Officers to intensify patrols around all the primary and secondary schools as well as all tertiary institutions in the state.
This is contained in a statement by the Command’s Public Relations, SP Abdullahi Haruna, on Wednesday.
He said the measure was in line with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on ensuring the safety of schools under the Safe Schools Initiative.
Haruna said the directive was aimed at improving the security of lives and property, most especially the safety of schools and students.
“The measure is aimed at ensuring the safety and security of students, teachers, and staff and to boost the overall educational sector in the state.
“The intention of increasing the presence of police personnel in these areas is to further deter criminal activities and provide a secure environment conducive to learning and teaching.”
He urged members of the public, particularly school administrators, teachers, parents, and students, to cooperate fully with the Police and other security agencies and report any suspicious activities for prompt action.
While thanking the people of the state for their support, cooperation, and understanding, the commissioner urged them to keep reporting any suspicious movement of persons or items to the nearest Police station.
The PUNCH reports that over 280 pupils and teachers of Government Secondary School and LEA primary school at Kuriga, Kaduna State were abducted by bandits last Thursday, triggering national outrage.
The Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Amnesty International, the Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Union of Teachers, and the House of Representatives condemned the attack and asked the government to rescue the victims immediately
The bandits reportedly invaded the Kuriga area of the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Thursday, shooting at their victims before taking away at least 280 of the pupils and teachers from both schools.
The PUNCH reports that the secondary school was relocated to the primary school on account of the insecurity in the council.
The incident occurred barely 24 hours after insurgents abducted 200 internally displaced women in Borno State.
The women were kidnapped in Ngala, the headquarters of Gambarou Ngala in Borno State while fetching firewood in the bush.