The Nigeria Police Force, Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja, has launched a comprehensive school safety campaign across the Federal Capital Territory and Niger State as schools resume for a new academic session.
The initiative, launched on the directive of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7, AIG Victor Olaiya, psc(+), is aimed at protecting children, strengthening police-community partnerships, safeguarding lives and property, and promoting safer learning environments across the Zone.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Zone 7 Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Halima Mohammed, said the campaign would involve a series of sensitisation and community engagement activities designed to equip children, parents, teachers and school administrators with practical safety measures.
According to her, targeted radio sensitisation programmes have already commenced to educate parents, guardians and members of the public on school safety and practical measures for protecting children.
The Zone has also commenced the physical distribution of safety fliers to parents and guardians, providing guidance on preparing children for school and teaching them essential safety habits. The safety messages are also being amplified through the Zone 7 social media platforms.
As part of the campaign, the Police said Zone 7 would soon flag off a child-friendly School Safety Anthem designed to make important safety messages memorable, relatable and easy for children to understand and practise.
The Zone will also embark on school safety outreach visits following resumption, engaging pupils, students, teachers and school administrators on personal safety, crime prevention, emergency preparedness, responsible behaviour and the importance of speaking up whenever they feel unsafe.
The campaign is equally expected to strengthen collaboration among parents, schools, communities and the Police, with stakeholders encouraged to maintain effective communication and work together to prevent threats to the safety and wellbeing of children.
Mohammed said the FCT and Niger State Police Commands would continue to intensify intelligence-based patrols, surveillance and protection of school assets as part of broader efforts to secure educational institutions across the Zone.
The Police urged parents, guardians, teachers, school administrators and communities to actively participate in the campaign, stressing that child safety is a shared responsibility.
The Zone 7 Headquarters reaffirmed its commitment to proactive policing and sustained community engagement towards creating safer environments where every child can learn, grow and thrive.
The campaign is anchored on the message: “PREPARE. PREVENT. PROTECT.”
