Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has defended the Federal Government’s position on school security, insisting that it is impossible for Abuja to deploy security personnel to protect every educational institution across the country.
Reacting to the recent abduction of schoolchildren in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Omokri urged Nigerians to focus on practical solutions rather than directing blame at President Bola Tinubu and his administration.
According to him, insecurity in Nigeria must be viewed within the broader context of security challenges facing the Sahel region, warning that constant attacks on the government over every security incident only deepen divisions and weaken national unity.
Omokri argued that terrorism flourishes when citizens turn against one another instead of working collectively to address security threats. He also cautioned Nigerians against accepting every criticism at face value, alleging that some individuals exploit national crises to sow discord and advance agendas that undermine the country’s unity.
The former presidential aide noted that Nigeria has approximately 300,000 schools but fewer than 300,000 soldiers, making it unrealistic for federal security agencies alone to provide protection for every school nationwide.
He maintained that the challenge underscores the need for state policing, describing it as a critical component of efforts to improve security across the country.
Omokri further called on state governors to take greater responsibility for safeguarding schools and strengthening security infrastructure within their domains, rather than placing the burden solely on the Federal Government.
He pointed to Lagos State’s community-based security model, which was later legalised in 2016, as an example of effective grassroots policing and intelligence gathering. According to him, the initiative has played a significant role in making Lagos one of the safest states in the country.
The ambassador-designate also stressed that school security falls largely within the jurisdiction of state governments and urged governors to support the Tinubu administration’s push for state police as a long-term solution to insecurity.
He added that increased federal allocations to states and local governments have enhanced their capacity to address security concerns, insisting that inadequate funding should no longer be used as a justification for inaction.
Omokri also highlighted the importance of community intelligence in combating insecurity, noting that security agencies depend heavily on information provided by residents to prevent and respond to threats.
He urged citizens to promptly report suspicious activities through emergency channels, stressing that timely intelligence remains one of the most effective tools for preventing attacks.
He wrote partly, “Let us now consider some facts and introduce solutions.
“Nigeria has approximately 300,000 schools and fewer than 300,000 soldiers. It is not practicable for the Federal Government to guard every school in Nigeria. That is why President Bola Tinubu proposed State Police and asked the Governors to get on board. Only the State Police can secure Nigeria’s 300,000 schools.
“Rather than criticise President Bola Tinubu over the Ogbomosho Abduction, ask your Governor to get on board with the State Police initiative of the Tinubu Administration.”
