•School children and policemen
Federal and state governments are beefing up security in schools across the country as the 2026/27 session commences on Monday.
The move is meant to protect students, teachers and property from possible attack by terrorists, reports The Nation.
The Federal Ministry of Education said yesterday that the relevant security agencies had been mobilised for heightened vigilance, particularly around unity colleges and their immediate environments.
The Lagos and Sokoto state governments are also taking precautionary measures to secure schools and students.
In the same vein, the Oyo State Police Command is partnering with the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) to ensure safer and more secure learning environments across the state following the May 15, 2026 bandits attack on Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School in Esiele, and L.A. Primary School all in Oriire Local Government area of the state.
Education Minister said the safety and wellbeing of students and staff remained central to the federal government’s commitment to providing a secure and conducive environment for teaching and learning.
“The Federal Ministry of Education has reaffirmed that all Federal Unity Colleges nationwide will resume academic activities on Monday, September 14, 2026, as scheduled, assuring students, parents, guardians and other stakeholders that necessary arrangements are in place to support a safe, smooth and seamless commencement of the new academic session,” the ministry said yesterday.
It said coordinated efforts involving relevant security agencies were aimed at safeguarding pupils, staff and school communities as academic activities resume across the country.
The minister, in a statement signed by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, urged parents and guardians to remain calm, rely on official information and continue preparations for their children and wards to return to their respective federal unity colleges.
He also directed school authorities to maintain close coordination with relevant security agencies and other appropriate authorities to facilitate an orderly and secure resumption.
LASG tightens safety measures as schools resume
Lagos State Basic and Secondary Education Commissioner Jamiu Alli-Balogun confirmed yesterday that the state government has stepped up safety and security measures in schools as pupils and students get set to resume for the 2026/2027 academic session.
But the commissioner asked the communities to remain vigilant.
Alli-Balogun said that government was mindful of the safety and wellbeing of children and urged other stakeholders to collaborate with it to make safety, health and wellbeing of learners, teachers and others a collective responsibility.
He called on parents, pupils, students, teachers, administrators and other stakeholders to promptly report any security concerns, unsafe conditions, damaged facilities and health-related issues to appropriate authorities.
The commissioner directed schools to sustain clean and conducive learning environments, including functional water supply systems and sanitation and hygiene facilities, to protect learners and staff of schools.
“The new session provides another opportunity to strengthen learning, discipline, character development, innovation and excellence across schools through shared commitment and collective responsibility,” he added.
Alli-Balogun advised learners to maintain personal hygiene, avoid littering, wash hands regularly, practise good respiratory hygiene, and dispose of waste properly.
He advised schoolchildren to avoid sharing personal items, and encouraged schools to ensure adequate classroom ventilation and regular cleaning of frequently-touched surfaces.
“Teachers, administrators and non-teaching staff are expected to lead by example by maintaining high standards of personal hygiene, environmental cleanliness and safety,” he said.
The government said that its model colleges were expected to resume tomorrow.
The official urged school communities to cooperate with school authorities and report situations that could compromise the safety or wellbeing of learners and school personnel.
Sokoto won’t re-open schools in insecurity-hit areas yet.
The Sokoto State government said the security challenge in some parts of the state would not allow for the resumption of studies in such areas for now.
But the new session will start on Monday, according to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
It said schools previously shut due to insecurity will remain closed until the government determines that it is safe for them to reopen.
Boarding schools would resume tomorrow, Sunday, September 13, while academic activities in all public and private schools would begin on Monday.
It urged parents, guardians, School-Based Management Committees and Parents-Teachers Associations to ensure the prompt and orderly return of students.
Teachers were also directed to commence academic activities immediately after resumption.
“The ministry’s inspectors will conduct monitoring visits to schools across the state to assess compliance with the approved resumption schedule and ensure that academic activities begin as planned,” the statement said.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Ahmad Ladan Ala, directed heads of parastatals and agencies under the ministry to monitor the resumption and ensure a smooth start to the new academic session.
Police, PCRC strengthen partnership for safer schools in Oyo
The Safe School Initiative in Oyo State was launched yesterday as part of the Command’s renewed commitment to strengthening school safety across the state and also coincided with the 42nd Anniversary of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in the state.
Spokesman for the command, Ayanlade Olayinka, said the Safe School initiative was designed to strengthen security around schools through enhanced police visibility, protection of pupils, students, teachers and other school personnel, safeguarding of school infrastructure, improved community-based intelligence gathering and prompt response to emerging security threats.
He said the command was also deepening engagement with the PCRC Safe School Club, school proprietors, administrators, Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), teachers, parents and students.
He said: “These engagements are aimed at establishing a collaborative security framework for the early identification, reporting and prevention of threats within and around schools.
“The Oyo State Police Command recognises that sustainable school safety is a collective responsibility.
“Consequently, continuous engagement with stakeholders remains central to identifying security concerns, strengthening preventive measures and ensuring that credible information reaches the Police early enough for appropriate intervention.
“Personnel deployed for school protection have been directed to remain vigilant, maintain close contact with school communities and respond promptly to credible security information.
“The Command will continue to leverage intelligence-led policing, strategic community engagement and proactive security measures to anticipate and prevent threats to schools and their occupants.
“In line with this, school proprietors, administrators, teachers, parents, students and members of the public are urged to remain security-conscious and promptly report suspicious persons, vehicles, movements or activities around schools.
“The Command particularly encourages everyone to “SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.”
“Early reporting of suspicious activities can provide the Police with the actionable intelligence required to prevent security incidents before they occur.
“The Oyo State Police Command assures residents that it remains committed to working closely with the PCRC and other stakeholders towards creating a safe, secure and conducive environment for learning across the state.”
About 48 pupils and teachers were abducted during the May attack in Oriire LGA.
One of the abducted teachers was beheaded by the terrorists to force through their demand for the release of some terrorists in jail. Government rebuffed their demands.
The remaining abductees were released on July 10 after 56 days in captivity.
On the night of April 14–15, 2014 Boko Haram elements forced their way to the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State and abducted over a hundred students many of whom were married off to the gunmen.
