Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has identified intelligence failure as one of the primary contributors to the ongoing security crisis in Nigeria. He made this statement during the Nigeria Police Force Stakeholders’ forum focused on school security in Ekiti State and the launch of the Schools Protection Squad (SPS).
At the event themed “Strengthening Security Resilience and Integration of Host Communities in the Protection of Education,” Oyebanji emphasized that merely responding to attacks is insufficient to address security challenges. He stressed the importance of anticipating threats and preparing security agencies to preemptively tackle potential issues.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Security, Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana (retd), Oyebanji stated, “Most of the security crises we have in Nigeria today are due to intelligence failure. We should be able to envisage what will happen and how we can be on top of the situation rather than responding to attacks all the time.” He added that his administration has been collaborating with security agencies and the Commissioner of Education to identify high-risk schools, including boarding schools and Federal Government colleges, to ensure they are adequately patrolled and secured.
In his remarks, the National Coordinator of the SPS, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, described the squad as an innovative intervention introduced by Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbedokun to enhance safety and security in educational environments.
Ekiti State Commissioner of Police Akinwale Adeniran also praised the IGP for selecting Ekiti State as the first recipient of this initiative in the southwest region, viewing it as a significant step toward ensuring the safety of students and teachers.