By Kehinde Oluwatayo
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A call has gone to school owners across the country to put security measures that will make commission of crime cumbersome and unattractive to criminals in their premises to ensure the safety of students.
Speaking with The Hope on the incessant kidnapping of students across the country, a retired Commissioner of Police, Barr Samuel Adetuyi said everything that can assist in controlling crime is a welcome development.
According to him, “the list of security measures that can be put in place is inexhaustible. In addition to having a fence and putting security men to man it, devices like CCTV camera and other crime detection gadgets should be installed in strategic locations within the premises”.
Adetuyi stated that passing information to relevant security agencies promptly is important stressing that security guards of schools should be equipped with gadgets that will help them pass information promptly.
“Information about security should not be delayed. Devices like CCTV camera and other crime detection gadgets should be installed in strategic locations because the footage will be useful for investigation in case of any attack”.
While saying that another entrance through which people can escape should be created in the premises, Adetuyi said such could at times be a dangerous thing.
The security expert advised that security consciousness should be inculcated in students adding that they should be taught arm combat exercise and self defence mechanism which he said that does works at times.
“We are not advising them to confront a kidnapper but nobody knows. At least, David defeated Goliath with only sling. If another entrance is created may be at the back, it can serve as an escape route at times, though it might be dangerous at times,” he said.
He however said that school authorities can not do much in combating crime when the whole country is not secure.
“Gone are the days when the headteacher with his cane only can control a school even to the houses of students. The mention of the headteacher is coming is enough but today the story has changed.
“The major reason it is difficult to fight crime in Nigeria is because the nation still depends on analogue. The way the police, military were operating fifty, sixty years ago is still the way they operate now that the population has gone up”.
According to him, the nation must go digital in terms of equipment to be used by security operatives if it truly wants to fight crime since criminals themselves have gone digital.
“Today, our security operatives still stop people on the road to check their bags. Will criminals put incriminating thing where you can see it? Go to America, no police will stop you but if you put gun in your booth in ten minutes they will pick you up”.
Adetuyi who agreed that going digital as far as security is concerned is expensive, noted that it is important for the safety of citizens.
“If it is difficult to secure ourselves, we can call on other nations, have a bilateral relationship with countries like Israel, America, France or Germany and then we can take care of all these.
“But unfortunately in Nigeria, those that are trained, experienced, knowledgeable about what we are saying, government will leave and deal with those who do not have pedigree.
“Another thing is the act of disclosing how a criminal is arrested. It is making it difficult to fight crime. Criminals too watch television. When you go on air to disclose how you detect a crime, they will not use that method again, he explained.
