The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has called for stronger intelligence gathering, early-warning systems and coordinated action among security agencies, schools and local communities to prevent attacks on educational institutions across Nigeria.
Disu said protecting schools required a shift from responding to incidents after they occur to identifying threats, addressing security gaps and preventing attacks before they disrupt learning or endanger lives.
He made the call at the seventh annual summit of the Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (EWAN), held in Lagos on Wednesday, with the theme, “Schools Under Threat: From Reactive Responses to Sustainable Protection.”
The police chief, represented by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, said school insecurity had consequences beyond the immediate victims, including interrupted academic activities, fear among parents and communities, and reduced access to education.
He said the police would continue to strengthen intelligence-led operations and threat assessments, while encouraging school administrators, teachers, parents, students and residents to report credible security concerns through appropriate channels.
Disu also emphasised the need for effective information-sharing between security agencies and education authorities, alongside stronger police-community relationships built on trust, accountability and professional conduct.
He urged schools to develop security procedures suited to their locations and levels of vulnerability, supported by emergency plans and clear arrangements for responding to threats.
The IGP further challenged EWAN to sustain its engagement with education and security institutions after the summit, ensuring that discussions translated into practical recommendations and stronger oversight of school protection measures.
Former University of Lagos Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, also called for a coordinated national framework to protect schools.
Ogundipe, represented by the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof. Joseph Awoyinfa, said recurring attacks were disrupting education, undermining national development and leaving affected communities traumatised.
He urged federal, state and local governments to strengthen early-warning mechanisms, improve coordination among security agencies and invest in preventive measures rather than relying primarily on emergency responses after attacks.
He also called for better school infrastructure, surveillance systems, safe transportation and more secure boarding facilities, particularly in rural communities and areas vulnerable to conflict.
Ogundipe identified insecurity, weak governance in remote communities and socio-economic pressures as factors that could heighten schools’ exposure to attacks. He said journalists could help prevent future incidents by investigating security gaps, documenting community concerns and tracking whether government interventions were implemented.
Earlier, EWAN Chairman Mojeed Alabi urged journalists to move beyond reporting attacks after they occur and investigate the conditions that leave schools vulnerable.
He called for closer scrutiny of funds allocated for school security, government policies and the implementation of measures intended to protect learners and teachers.
Alabi also stressed that school safety required sustained cooperation among governments, security agencies, education authorities, communities and the media.
He cited the 2014 abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, and the subsequent abduction in Dapchi, Yobe State, among incidents that underscored Nigeria’s continuing challenge of protecting students and educational institutions.
The summit focused on the need to make school protection a sustained preventive effort, with participants calling for stronger intelligence systems, improved coordination and greater accountability in implementing security measures.
The discussions highlighted the need to ensure that safety plans translate into practical safeguards for students, teachers and school communities, particularly in areas where insecurity threatens attendance and continuity of learning.
