The Oyo State Police Command has partnered with the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) to strengthen security around schools and ensure a safe learning environment for pupils, students and teachers as schools resume for the new academic session.
The initiative, according to a statement by the Command on Friday, is part of renewed efforts to enhance school safety across the state and coincided with the 42nd anniversary celebration of the PCRC in Oyo State.
The statement, signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said the Safe School initiative was designed to improve security around schools through enhanced police visibility, protection of school occupants and infrastructure, community-based intelligence gathering and prompt response to emerging threats.
The launch was attended by the National Chairman of the PCRC, Mogaji Ibrahim Olaniyan, the Chairperson of the Oyo State PCRC and other critical stakeholders.
Their participation, the Command said, reinforced the shared commitment to strengthening collaboration between the police, school communities and other stakeholders towards ensuring the safety and security of schools across the state.
The Command said it was also deepening engagement with the PCRC Safe School Club, school proprietors, administrators, Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), teachers, parents and students.
It explained that the engagements were aimed at establishing a collaborative security framework for the early identification, reporting and prevention of threats within and around schools.
According to the statement, sustainable school safety remains a collective responsibility, making continuous engagement with stakeholders central to identifying security concerns, strengthening preventive measures and ensuring that credible information reaches the police early enough for appropriate intervention.
The Command said personnel deployed for school protection had been directed to remain vigilant, maintain close contact with school communities and respond promptly to credible security information.
It added that it would continue to leverage intelligence-led policing, strategic community engagement and proactive security measures to anticipate and prevent threats to schools and their occupants.
The police urged school proprietors, administrators, teachers, parents, students and members of the public to remain security-conscious and promptly report suspicious persons, vehicles, movements or activities around schools.
The Command particularly encouraged residents to embrace the message, “SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING,” stressing that early reporting of suspicious activities could provide actionable intelligence required to prevent security incidents before they occur.
The Oyo Police Command assured residents of its commitment to working closely with the PCRC and other stakeholders towards creating a safe, secure and conducive environment for learning across the state.
Members of the public have also been urged to report emergencies through the Oyo State Call Response Centre toll-free line, 615, or the Oyo State Police Command Control Room on 08081768614 and 07055495413.