Synergy
By Mateen Badru
Lagos, April 2, 2018 (NAN) Security experts in Lagos on Monday called for synergy among security agencies to ensure functional security measures were put in place in schools in the country.
In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, the experts said that insecurities in schools could be checked through proper organisation of security agencies.
They said that several workshops, training and retraining were being held by security agencies on the need for synergy for a crime-free society.
A security expert, Mr Olawale Oletu, said that hoodlums were now using the forest and rivers surrounding the schools as their hideout and escape routes.
Oletu said: “There is need for government at all levels to prioritise security in schools.
“For how long are we going to continue to be held hostage by kidnappers?
“If security agencies in the country are provided with adequate logistics and work together, insecurity in schools will be checked.”
Also, a security consultant, Mr Olanrewaju Fashakin, said that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), should be charged with the responsibility of deploying security personnel to schools.
“This, however, cannot be done alone without working with other security agencies. Imagine a situation where hoodlums try to attack through the waterways.
“The Marine Police and the Nigerian Navy should respond to the NSCD’s call. The same synergy should be established with the Nigeria Air Force, if there is need for aerial support,” Fashakin said.
In his comments, Mr Abdullahi Tijani, another security consultant, advised that awareness should be created in schools on the need to be security conscious.
“The business of security should not be left for the government alone. Schools management should be enlightened on security consciousness.
“The schools management should put some security measures in place to assist security agencies in protecting them better,” he said.
Commenting, a retired security personnel, who pleaded anonymity, said: “Supremacy battle and shifting of blame should never be the order of the day.
“Security agents belonging to different agencies often forget they have the same aim to protect lives and property.
“There are several robbery incidents that warrants the involvement of more than one security agency to respond, but the non-functional relationship often make criminals to escape.
“This non-functional relationship and lack of synergy is now being capitalised on by the corrupt minded in the society, thereby exposing our schools to danger,” he said. (NAN)
BOM/ENN/GOK
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Olagoke Olatoye