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Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has said it is unrealistic to expect the Federal Government to ensure the safety of every school across the country, following the recent abduction of schoolchildren in Ogbomosho, Oyo State.
Omokri made the remarks in a statement shared on X on Saturday, where he reacted to the incident and urged Nigerians to focus on practical solutions rather than blaming the federal government.
According to him, insecurity in Nigeria should be seen in the broader context of growing security challenges across the Sahel region.
State police remain the answer
Omokri argued that the establishment of the state police remains the most effective way to protect schools and communities nationwide.
He noted that Nigeria has about 300,000 schools but fewer than 300,000 soldiers, making it impossible for federal security agencies alone to provide protection to every educational institution.
“Nigeria has about 300,000 schools and less than 300,000 soldiers. It is not possible for the federal government to police every school in Nigeria,” he said.
“This is why President Bola Tinubu proposed the State Police and asked governors to come on board. Only the State Police can secure Nigeria’s 300,000 schools.”
Governors must take responsibility
The former presidential aide argued that state governments have the primary responsibility to ensure the safety of schools in their territories.
He urged governors to support ongoing efforts to establish state police instead of blaming the federal government whenever security breaches occur.
According to him, increased allocations to states and local governments have strengthened their ability to invest in security infrastructure and intelligence gathering.
Omokri added that education security largely falls within the jurisdiction of state governments and should be treated as such.
Lagos model highlighted
Citing Lagos State as an example, Omokri referred to the community-based security framework introduced and subsequently legalized in 2016.
He said the initiative has laid the foundation for effective grassroots policing and intelligence gathering, significantly contributing to improved security in the state.
According to him, Lagos has become one of the safest states in Nigeria and has successfully hosted large numbers of visitors and tourists without any major security incidents.
Citizens are urged to support security efforts
Omokri also stressed the importance of community cooperation in combating insecurity, stressing that security agencies rely heavily on information provided by residents.
He warned that terrorism thrives when citizens turn against each other and allow divisions to deepen.
He also warned Nigerians against individuals who exploit national crises to sow discord and weaken national unity.
The ambassador-designate urged residents to promptly report suspicious movements and activities through emergency channels, insisting that timely intelligence remains one of the most effective tools to prevent attacks and save lives.
His comments come against a backdrop of growing concern over the abduction of schoolchildren in Ogbomosho and renewed calls for stronger measures to address insecurity across the country.
