The police command in Oyo State, in partnership with the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), has unveiled an initiative to ensure a safer and more secure learning environment as schools resume for the 2026/2027 academic session.

The command’s public relations officer (PRO), Olayinka Ayanlade, made this known in a statement issued on Friday in Ibadan.

Mr Ayanlade said the initiative was conceived as part of the command’s renewed commitment to strengthening school safety across the state.

He said the safe school initiative was designed to strengthen security around schools through enhanced police visibility, protection of pupils, students, teachers, and school infrastructure.

According to him, the initiative will improve community-based intelligence gathering and prompt response to emerging security threats.

He said that the initiative was unveiled at an event attended by the PCRC national chairman, Mogaji Olaniyan; the Oyo State PCRC chairperson, Esther Adegbenjo; and other critical stakeholders.

“Their participation underscores the shared commitment to strengthening collaboration between the police, school communities and other stakeholders in ensuring the safety and security of schools in Oyo State,” he said.

Mr Ayanlade said the command was also deepening engagement with the PCRC Safe School Club, school proprietors, administrators, Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), teachers, parents and students.

The PPRO said the engagements aimed to establish a collaborative security framework for early identification, reporting, and prevention of threats within and around schools.

“The Oyo State police command recognises that sustainable school safety is a collective responsibility.

“Consequently, continuous engagement with stakeholders remains central to identifying security concerns, strengthening preventive measures and ensuring that credible information promptly reaches the police for appropriate intervention.

“Personnel deployed for school protection have been directed to remain vigilant; maintain close contact with school communities; and respond promptly to credible security information,” he said.

Mr Ayanlade said the command would continue to leverage intelligence-led policing, strategic community engagement and proactive security measures to anticipate and prevent threats to schools and their occupants.

He urged school proprietors, administrators, teachers, parents, students and members of the public to remain security-conscious and promptly report suspicious persons, vehicles, movements or activities around schools.

(NAN)