Okiro Advocates for Specialized Security Squads in Schools

Mike Okiro, the former Inspector General of Police, has renewed his call for the establishment of specialized security squads dedicated to protecting schoolchildren across Nigeria. He stated that such measures would significantly reduce the risk of mass abductions in educational institutions.

In an interview, Okiro recalled a proposal he made in 2012 that was not implemented by the government at that time, which he formally submitted to former President Goodluck Jonathan. He lamented that the delay in implementing these proposals became evident following the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014.

Okiro noted that despite the commitment shown by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari to revisit the proposal in 2018, challenges in implementation persisted. He emphasized the need for coordinated security measures tailored to the unique crime dynamics of each state, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for initiating a reform process to address these issues.