The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has announced that female officers have been deployed to schools across the country to protect students and teachers from frequent invasions and abductions by bandits.
The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, ordered their mobilization and a one-month intensive training programme and proper kitting of female squads in all commands of the 36 State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Commandant General announced the deployment on Wednesday while briefing personnel at the national headquarters in Abuja on his policies and programmes to reenergize the service.
He said, “following the spate of attacks and kidnapping of students in schools from different parts of the country, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has conducted a vulnerability survey of all schools in the country according to the six geopolitical zones, states, senatorial districts, and local governments.”
“This survey showed a very high level of vulnerability of some schools in different parts of the country”.
“There is a need to roll out policies and programmes that will constantly boost the morale of personnel to put in their best. I will make sure that all entitlements and operational allowances for the Rapid Response Squad, Female Squad, and any other assignments given to any personnel are paid so that we can prove to Nigerians that we are back again.
“Nigerians will start seeing the Female Squad in action as the Corps is planning to work with the Federal Ministry of Education to work out modalities for providing adequate security coverage for all schools in the country to checkmate the incessant attacks and invasion of schools by bandits and kidnappers in different parts of the country.
“This is a very serious assignment and there is a need for effective execution across board. I shall ensure effective deployment of personnel to protect our schools and restore the confidence of students, teachers, and parents alike; the glory of our educational system must be restored because upon this lies the future of this country.”
He added that the Corps “will work in synergy with other sister agencies because synergy and collaboration is a necessary mechanism in winning the war against insecurity as no organization can work in isolation and achieve anything tangible”.
Audi, however advocated intelligence sharing among security agencies of government as a panacea to nipping crime and insecurity in the bud and also charged “fellow Nigerians to assist security agencies to succeed with timely releases of credible information to help fight crime in the society.”
