Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has said it is not realistic for the Federal Government to secure every educational institution in the country.
In a statement shared on X on Saturday, reacting to the abduction of schoolchildren in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, he framed the incident within broader concerns about insecurity in the Sahel region, while urging a shift away from emotionally driven criticism of the federal government.
He argued that attacks on the president, his administration, and supporters over incidents like the Ogbomosho abduction only deepen mistrust in society and play into the hands of those who benefit from national division.
He further maintained that terrorism thrives on public discord, where citizens turn against one another instead of focusing on practical solutions to insecurity.
Omokri also cautioned against taking every criticism at face value, suggesting that some individuals are deliberately working towards national fragmentation by exploiting crises to fuel unrest and weaken national unity.
He maintained that Nigeria has an estimated 300,000 schools, while the number of soldiers falls below that figure, making it impossible for federal forces alone to protect every school nationwide.
He said this gap is why the push for state policing remains central to addressing insecurity.
He added that state governors should take greater responsibility for school safety and security infrastructure, rather than shifting blame to the federal government during crises such as the Ogbomosho abduction.
He also referenced earlier efforts in Lagos State, where a community-based security structure was introduced and later legalised in 2016, describing it as a foundation for effective grassroots policing and intelligence gathering.
The system, he argued, has contributed significantly to improved security outcomes in Lagos, which he said has become one of the safest states in the country and recently hosted large numbers of tourists without major security incidents.
He added that education security falls primarily under the responsibility of state governments and urged governors to support ongoing efforts towards establishing state police as a long-term solution.
Omokri further argued that increased federal allocations to states and local governments have strengthened their capacity to handle such responsibilities, insisting that funding constraints should no longer serve as an excuse.
He also stressed that insecurity often persists where there is insufficient local cooperation, noting that security agencies rely heavily on community intelligence to prevent and respond to threats.
He urged residents to report suspicious activities promptly through emergency hotlines, adding that timely information sharing remains critical to preventing attacks.
He wrote partly, “Let us now consider some facts and introduce solutions.
“Nigeria has approximately 300,000 schools and fewer than 300,000 soldiers. It is not practicable for the Federal Government to guard every school in Nigeria. That is why President Bola Tinubu proposed State Police and asked the Governors to get on board. Only the State Police can secure Nigeria’s 300,000 schools.
“Rather than criticise President Bola Tinubu over the Ogbomosho Abduction, ask your Governor to get on board with the State Police initiative of the Tinubu Administration.”
