A major push toward strengthening school security across the African continent gained momentum on Wednesday, 13th May 2026, as Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, received a high-level African Union delegation led by Ambassador Jainaba Jagne, Special Envoy for Children Affected by Armed Conflict, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The visit, which brought together representatives from several African countries including Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, and Ethiopia, formed part of a strategic study tour of the Nigeria Police Force’s Schools Protection Squad Command and Control Centre. It was conducted under the framework of the Safe Schools Declaration, a global initiative focused on protecting education in conflict and high-risk environments.
Officials from international organisations such as the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) and Save the Children International also participated in the engagement, underscoring growing global attention on Nigeria’s school security framework.
Ambassador Jagne, while speaking during the visit, praised the Nigeria Police Force for what she described as its structured and proactive approach to safeguarding educational institutions. She noted that interest in Nigeria’s Safe Schools model has grown significantly, with multiple African Union member states now exploring its adoption and adaptation to their local security contexts as part of wider continental efforts to protect children and learning environments from violence and disruption.
In his response, IGP Disu reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to advancing the objectives of the Safe Schools Declaration. He explained that the Force continues to prioritise coordinated security operations around schools through intelligence-led policing, rapid response deployment, routine patrols, and the integration of modern technology to detect and prevent threats.
He further emphasized the importance of partnerships with education authorities, international organisations, and regional stakeholders in ensuring sustained protection for schools across Nigeria and beyond.
The Inspector-General also expressed appreciation to the visiting delegation for recognising Nigeria’s efforts in developing and implementing the Safe Schools framework, noting that such collaboration strengthens regional capacity to address emerging security challenges affecting education.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, on Thursday, 15th May 2026.