Ondo Residents Call for Security Training in Schools Amid Rising Crime

A group of Ondo State indigenes residing in France has urged the state government to incorporate security training into the school curriculum, aiming to equip students at all levels with military skills and security awareness.

The recommendation came from the Ondo State Indigenes in Diaspora, France chapter, citing rising insecurity in the country, particularly affecting schools. The call was made in an open letter addressed to the state governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, signed by the group’s Coordinator, Mr. Akintoye Ogundoju.

The letter stressed that the current security situation “demands proactive measures to equip our younger generation with essential military skills and security awareness.” It added:

“The alarming rate of insecurity in Nigeria highlights the importance of fostering vigilance, resilience, and self-defense among citizens. By integrating military skills and security awareness into the curriculum at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, students can be empowered to recognise, respond to, and mitigate security threats effectively. Ignorance in matters of security is a luxury we can no longer afford.”

The group further emphasized that such training would provide students with knowledge of personal and community safety measures. “It would equip them with basic self-defense techniques and emergency response strategies, instill a sense of civic duty toward their communities, and build confidence and mental resilience to face challenges in a rapidly changing world,” the letter stated.

Ogundoju noted that the proposal aligns with global best practices, where nations prioritise citizen safety from a young age. “Security education is not a luxury but a necessity, especially in a country facing multiple security challenges. By nurturing security consciousness in our youth, we are investing in a safer future for Ondo State and Nigeria at large. We urge the state government to take swift action to implement this proposal and set an example for other states to follow.”

In a related development, the Commander of the Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps), Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said the corps had intensified patrols of schools, especially boarding schools, in response to the rising cases of insecurity and child kidnappings. “Following recent security concerns, the corps has commenced enhanced patrols of all boarding schools in the state. In the past week, we’ve visited numerous schools to ensure their safety,” he said.