News

States Fortify Security At Schools Over Boko Haram Threats

Published

12 years ago

July 4, 2014

Some state governments have started to comply with a presidential directive requiring them to fortify security in and around public and private schools in their areas.
President Goodluck Jonathan had directed states in the North East to secure schools against the background of the abduction of some school girls from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.
Jonathan also announced a N6.2billion Special Intervention Fund by the Federal Government, and advised the states to complement the efforts through counterpart funding.
A recent survey indicated that proprietors of schools are gradually keying into the programme of providing modern security systems to check attacks by criminals.
In compliance with the presidential directive, the Yobe State Government said it had erected fences around all public schools in the state as a measure to check attacks by insurgents.
More than 100 students were killed by insurgents last year at Government Secondary School, Damaturu, and Government Secondary School, Mamudo, as well as Federal Government College, Buni-Yadi, and College of Agriculture, Gujba.
The State Commissioner for Education, Muhammad Lamin, said the fences were meant to check trespassing in the schools.
“The schools were porous and vulnerable before the erection of the fences but now there is a sense of security as no one can drive through except through the gates,” he said.
Many teachers and students expressed satisfaction with the new arrangement.
A teacher, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “It (fence) gives us some sense of security unlike when you could drive in from all directions.”
Some parents, who also refused to be mentioned, commended the state government for fencing the schools and rebuilding burnt structures.
Also, security personnel were seen around some schools in Damaturu.
On its part, the Gombe State Government said it had been recruiting retired soldiers to guard public secondary schools.
At the Government Girls’ College, Doma; Government Secondary School, Gombe I; Government Secondary School, Gombe II; and Arabic Teachers College, Gombe; at least three retired soldiers each were employed to guard the schools’ premises.
Some of the former soldiers said on condition of anonymity that they ran two shifts – day and night – at their respective schools.
At some private schools, such as Pen Resource Academy, Gombe; Yahaya Ahmed Model School, Gombe; and St. James School, Gombe, private security men were seen guarding the premises.
Some of the schools had also erected barricades at their entrances as a way of checking movement into their premises.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Gombe, Fwaje Atajiri, said that the police were collaborating with other segments of the society to ensure effective security.
He added that the command had a good synergy with other security agencies in the state in sharing and using intelligence.
“We meet from time to time where we share intelligence and from time to time engage in joint operations,” he said.
Atajiri explained that the operations covered all sectors of the society, including schools and other public places.
Also in Adamawa, one of the three Northeast states under emergency rule in the last one year, school proprietors have begun to beef up security around their premises following violent attacks by insurgents since 2012.
However, an official of the state government said the state had yet to receive the Federal Government’s Special Intervention fund.
Ahmad Sajoh, the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the state governor, Murtala Nyako, said the governor was committed to investing in security for the benefit of the people.
Meanwhile, heads of security agencies in the state said they were collaborating in their jobs.
The Brigade Commander, 23 Amoured Brigade, Yola, Rogers Nicholas; the state Commissioner of Police, John Abakasanga; and the state Comptroller of Immigration, Rauf Adeboyega, all attested to a collaboration among the agencies.
In Abeokuta, the authorities have also taken steps to beef up security around schools.
Some school administrators said that the issue of security had become paramount to them because of incessant attacks on schools.
The Principal, Abeokuta Grammar School, Idi-Aba, Olurotimi Farunbi, said the walls of the school had been raised to make scaling of the fences difficult.
He said that the school had also increased the number of its security personnel to ensure effective surveillance of the premises.
A source at Federal Government College, Odogbolu, said that the school had restricted movement in and out of its premises from 8:00 p.m. to 6 a.m., except on special cases.
The source said that students had also been barred from using phones in the school, while vehicles going into the school premises were searched thoroughly.
“We make sure all vehicles moving in and out of the school premises are thoroughly searched.
We also organise regular fora during which we sensitise both students and parents to the need to be security conscious. We normally create special sessions during our PTA meetings during which we invite security personnel to give us talks on security issues,” he said.
The Principal, Iganmode Grammar School, Ota, Kayode Ajayi, said that the school recently bought a bomb detecting machine, while plans were underway to buy CCTV cameras to beef up security in the school.
On his part, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said that the command had intensified security in and around public and private schools in the state.
“Those that operate boarding facilities enjoy presence of our policemen on their premises during and outside school hours. We also ensure regular patrols of other schools which do not operate boarding facilities while we have also compiled the list of all security managers of the schools and colleges, including tertiary institutions, for regular meetings and interactions,” he said.
The State Intelligence Bureau, SIB, of the command has also been liaising with the Department of State Security (DSS), in Ogun for proper intelligence information gathering and sharing with stakeholders, including principal officers of the schools, Mr. Adejobi said.
He said that the command would continue to do the needful to ensure adequate protection of lives and property in and around school premises.
Similarly, the Bauchi State Government said it had provided security measures in all its schools following threats of attack on some schools across the state.
The Bauchi State Commissioner for Education, Ibrahim Aminu, said in Bauchi that the state government had sensitised teachers and students to security matters, especially on seeing strangers or strange objects.
He said that the threat to attack schools was not a new phenomenon.
“We have taken some measures in collaboration with security agencies, parents and the communities to ensure that all our schools are safe. Sometimes, the threats came repeatedly, they equally came from students who felt they would not pass their promotion examinations and after investigations some students were held responsible for the threats by the security agencies,” he disclosed.
Aminu said that proactive measures were also taken whenever information filtered into the ministry that there was a threat issued to any school.
“What we do is to send it to the security agencies and we investigate and take all the necessary measures we can. We don’t joke with threat and useful information,” said the commissioner.

News

Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf

Published

3 days ago

August 17, 2026

The Tide

Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.

The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.

CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.

The students, led by Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.

According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.

The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.

Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.

He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.

Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.

The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.

He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.

CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.

He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.

Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.

The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.

The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.

According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.

The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.

Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.

He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.

CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.

He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.

News

College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates For 2027 Polls

Published

3 days ago

August 17, 2026

The Tide

The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.

International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.

Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.

He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.

Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.

He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.

“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.

Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.

Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.

He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.

According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.

Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.

The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.

Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.

By: John Bibor

News

Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping

Published

3 days ago

August 17, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.

Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.

The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.

He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.

Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.

On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.

The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.

Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.

On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.

He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.

The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.

Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.

By; King Onunwor