By Desire Emmanuel
Following the abduction of over 40 students and some staff in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on Friday, the Osun State government on Sunday, May 17, said it would revive its Safe School Initiative by deploying squads to protect schools.
Gunmen on Friday invaded three schools at a community in the Oriire Local Government Area, killing a teacher and a commercial motorcycle rider before taking away the vice principal, some staff and students.
However, in what was described as a step to forestall possible spillover of the abduction in Oyo State, the Osun State government said it would beef up security in schools by deploying squads as a way of protecting the pupils and students.
A statement issued by the spokesman for Governor Ademola Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed, on Sunday, added that schools located in border areas and remote sections of the state would be given utmost priority during the initiative.
The statement disclosed that the South-West security network, Amotekun, has been specifically instructed to strengthen the partnership with various non- government peace organisations currently providing security services across many schools within the state.
“We are resolved to secure our pupils across our school system. Necessary steps are ongoing to improve security of schools especially in rural areas. The existing safe school plan will be strengthened.
“The Commissioner for Education and the Security Adviser are to meet to firm up the revitalisation plan. I assure parents and school authorities of their safety and protection,” the governor was quoted as saying in the statement.
The statement added that the governor assured parents and school authorities of the safety and protection of the pupils and students and also directed his special adviser on security matters to follow up the new plan with service commanders across the security agencies.
