Elochukwu Benjamin
Awka
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra State Command, has commenced school safety monitoring and sensitisation visits across the state to strengthen security as schools resume for the 2026/2027 academic session.
The exercise, coordinated by the Command’s Safe School Response Coordination Centre, was flagged off on Thursday by the State Commandant, Maku Olatunde, alongside the Safe School Coordinator, the Superintendent of Corps Afunanya Nneka, the Head of Media and Tactical Operations, the Superintendent of Corps Okadigbo Edwin, and the Government House Unit Commander, Superintendent of Corps Nwokoji Sopuruchukwu.
The team began the exercise at Ridge Valley Academy, Awka, before extending the monitoring to other schools.
Speaking on behalf of the Commandant, Afunanya urged school proprietors, administrators, teachers, parents and pupils to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, vehicles or activities around schools to the NSCDC or other security agencies.
She said building a strong culture of safety within and around schools was essential to protecting pupils and creating a secure learning environment.
Afunanya also advised pupils to take personal safety seriously, avoid truancy and street roaming, and cooperate with teachers, school management and security personnel in maintaining peace and order within their schools.
She noted that the NSCDC was working with other security agencies and stakeholders to strengthen security around schools across the state.
During the sensitisation, Government House Unit Commander, Nwokoji Sopuruchukwu, encouraged pupils to speak out whenever they experience molestation or abuse, assuring them that the Corps has the capacity to protect them.
The monitoring team engaged school managements, teachers and pupils, assessed the level of preparedness for the new academic session and identified areas requiring further attention.
The Command also urged schools and residents to embrace its “See Something, Say Something” campaign, stressing that timely reporting could provide intelligence needed to prevent security breaches.
Responding on behalf of Ridge Valley Academy, the school’s Director, Dr Ifeyinwa Ejelue, commended the NSCDC for the visit, describing the sensitisation as a timely reminder that safeguarding pupils, teachers and the wider school community is a shared responsibility.
