Police Order Suspension Of Devotion In Schools Over Security Threat

The police have ordered the suspension of assembly devotion
in primary and secondary schools nationwide.

This follows an intelligence report that pupils may be
targeted during the exercise by insurgents.

Investigation showed that there was a signal from the Deputy
Inspector- General of Police, Operations, to all state Commands, advising them
to direct their respective state commissioners of education to suspend assembly
devotion in all public and private schools.

The directive further said the action was necessary as a
result of “credible terrorist threat specifically to such gatherings.”

The Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole,
confirmed the security report on Thursday, adding that the police and other
security agencies were working to thwart any threat to schools across the
country.

She said, “I can confirm that morning devotion has been
suspended in primary and secondary schools following an intelligence report
that such gatherings may be targeted by insurgents.

“We are working with other security agencies to frustrate
any attack on schools and other public facilities; Nigerians should go about
their business without any fear and they should also contact the nearest
security agency if they have any useful information.”

One of our correspondents, who went round some of the
schools in Ibadan, observed that pupils walked straight into their classrooms
in the morning instead of heading to the assembly halls or ground.

A vice principal in a secondary school in Ibadan, who
preferred anonymity because she was not authorised to speak on the matter, told
our correspondent that the practice stopped a few weeks ago. She however said
no reason was given for the action by the state government.

She said, “We no longer conduct assembly as it was the
practice for several decades. A directive from the state ministry of education
advised that we put the tradition on hold. I don’t want to speculate reason for
the directive since no reason was given for it. But I think it’s a temporary
measure.”

However, a reliable source at the ministry, who did not want
his name to be published, told our correspondent that intelligence reports
gathered by the police informed the decision.

He said, “There was a security report which warned that the
practice should stop to forestall possible attack. There was no formal letter
to the schools but I understand that schools were advised to stop the practice
by the government. The government did not want to create fear so it quietly
gave the order without any elaborate explanation. The practice will return
soon.”

Punch