Oyo Assembly seeks increased security in schools

The Oyo State House of Assembly has recently called for a significant enhancement of security measures in both public and private educational institutions across the state, following disturbing incidents of abduction. The resolution specifically advocates for the deployment of the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun Corps, alongside other security agencies, to schools, particularly those in vulnerable rural and border areas. This move underscores the escalating security challenges facing Nigeria's education sector and highlights the state government's reliance on regional security initiatives to complement federal efforts. The Assembly also recommended reforms to strengthen Amotekun's operations and improve inter-agency collaboration, acknowledging existing gaps in the security architecture.

The Oyo State House of Assembly recently passed a crucial resolution urging an immediate and comprehensive strengthening of security across all educational institutions within the state. This legislative action was prompted by a series of alarming security breaches, including the abduction of students and teachers from Community High School, Esiele, and L.A. Primary School, Yawota, in the Oriire Local Government Area. These incidents have cast a shadow over the safety of learning environments and raised profound concerns among parents, guardians, and educators about the vulnerability of schools to criminal activities such as kidnapping, vandalism, and cult-related violence.

The Assembly's call specifically emphasizes the need to deploy operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), popularly known as Amotekun Corps, in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, to safeguard schools. This directive reflects a growing trend among Nigerian states to leverage regional security outfits to address localized insecurity, given the perceived limitations of the centralized federal policing system. This article will delve into the legal and operational implications of this resolution, examining the statutory framework governing Amotekun, the broader context of school security in Nigeria, and the challenges inherent in multi-agency security deployments.

The legal framework for security in Nigeria is primarily enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which vests the control of national security, including the Nigeria Police Force, in the Federal Government. Section 214(1) of the Constitution explicitly prohibits constituent parts of the federation from forming their own police forces. However, Section 11(2) of the Constitution allows a House of Assembly to make laws with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order.

In response to escalating insecurity, particularly in the Southwestern region, the six state governors of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti established the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Operation Amotekun, on January 9, 2020. This regional security outfit was subsequently given legal backing through individual state laws, such as the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) Corps Law, 2020. The establishment of Amotekun aimed to complement the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force in tackling crimes like kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, and farmer-herder clashes, especially in rural communities. Furthermore, Nigeria ratified the Safe Schools Declaration in March 2019 and, in August 2021, the Federal Ministry of Education formulated a National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-free Schools with implementing guidelines, mandating federal and state ministries of education to prioritize safety and security standards in schools.

The Oyo Assembly's resolution to deploy Amotekun Corps to schools, while addressing an urgent need, operates within a complex legal and operational landscape. The Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) Corps Law, 2020, empowers the Corps to assist in maintaining law and order, gather intelligence, and collaborate with other security agencies. Specifically, Amotekun operatives are authorized to identify, arrest, and register offenders, but they are mandated to promptly hand over such suspects to the nearest police station. This highlights Amotekun's complementary role, rather than an independent policing authority with full prosecutorial powers.

One significant limitation of Amotekun's powers, as stipulated in its enabling law, is the requirement for the Inspector General of Police's approval to bear licensed firearms. This provision underscores the constitutional supremacy of the Nigeria Police Force and the federal government's control over arms. The effectiveness of Amotekun in school security, therefore, hinges on robust collaboration and clear delineation of responsibilities with the Nigeria Police Force and other federal agencies like the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). However, the Oyo Assembly's post-legislative scrutiny report itself highlighted "weak collaboration among security agencies, including Amotekun, NSCDC and the Nigeria Police Force, resulting in overlapping responsibilities, poor communication and occasional mistrust."

The deployment of Amotekun to schools, particularly in rural and border areas, is intended to leverage the Corps' local knowledge, understanding of terrain, and community trust for improved intelligence gathering and rapid response. This aligns with the principles of community policing, which the Nigeria Police Act 2020 also seeks to promote. However, challenges such as insufficient funding, inadequate training, and the potential for political influence over state security outfits remain critical concerns that could impede their effectiveness and accountability. The ongoing national debate about the establishment of state police, with a recent constitutional amendment bill passed by the House of Representatives, further underscores the systemic issues with Nigeria's centralized policing model and the push for decentralized security solutions.

While the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-free Schools provides a framework for school safety, its implementation requires concerted efforts from all levels of government and security agencies. The Oyo Assembly's call for comprehensive security audits of public schools, in collaboration with Amotekun and other agencies, is a practical step towards identifying specific vulnerabilities and tailoring security responses. The success of such initiatives will depend on overcoming the identified challenges of inter-agency coordination, ensuring adequate resources, and upholding human rights in the operations of all security personnel involved.

The Oyo State House of Assembly's resolution for enhanced school security, particularly through the deployment of Amotekun Corps, represents a critical response to the escalating insecurity threatening educational institutions in Nigeria. For legal practitioners, this development signals an increased focus on security compliance for schools, necessitating a review of existing safety protocols and emergency response plans. Attorneys advising educational institutions should guide clients on collaborating effectively with state and federal security agencies, understanding the jurisdictional boundaries and operational mandates of outfits like Amotekun, and ensuring adherence to human rights principles in any security arrangement.

Practitioners should also monitor legislative and policy developments closely, especially regarding the ongoing discourse on state policing and any amendments to the Amotekun Corps Law or the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-free Schools. The effectiveness of these measures will largely depend on improved inter-agency collaboration, sustained funding, and rigorous oversight to prevent abuses and ensure accountability. The call for comprehensive security audits and the phased deployment of trained personnel offers an opportunity for proactive legal counsel to help schools implement robust security frameworks, thereby restoring confidence in the safety of learning environments and safeguarding the right to education.