Turkish School kidnap: Lagos, Ondo police fortify waterways

AS part of the efforts to curb the activities of kidnappers who use the waterways to gain access into school, the Lagos State Police Command has urged schools to activate their internal security measures.

This came as the police in Ondo State said it had stepped up measures to arrest the spate of kidnapping of school children along coastal communities in the South-West.

The Lagos police image-maker, Dolapo Badmos, while speaking with the Sunday Tribune, said security efforts had been doubled along the waterways with constant surveillance and patrol, especially around places prone to activities of kidnapers.

“The command is relating with the schools. They have been advised to activate their internal security measures to be supported by police operational strategies.

The police spokesperson added that “the state government has supported the command with logistics. More speed boats equipped adequately are now on patrol of waterways.”

It was gathered that one of the secondary schools in Epe has acquired a patrol van.

The Ondo command spokesperson, Femi Joseph, said synergy exists among all the security agencies in the state to curb the activities of the kidnappers extending to the state.

He said the Commissioner of Police, Hilda Harrison, had met with all the principals, head teachers, zonal education officers and the state commissioner of education, Jide Adegbulugbe on how to prevent kidnapping in the coastal area of the state.

Joseph disclosed that head teachers of all schools in the coastal communities were directed to erect perimeter fence around their schools to guide against intruders, while two security personnel must be employed by each school to monitor activities within the school.

“We understand that the last incident of kidnap of some students could be prevented if the school authorities have paid adequate attention to the fence of the school through which the kidnappers gained access into the school.

“School owners have been advised to increase their security consciousness. The frightening reports of kidnappers in the coastal communities of other states had been creating fear among parents in the state,” he said.