Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, has assured teachers that the legislature remains committed to the establishment of a State Police system as a long-term solution to Nigeria’s growing security challenges.
Obasa gave the assurance on Tuesday while addressing members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State chapter, who staged a protest at the Assembly complex over the recent kidnapping and killing of teachers and students in Oyo State.
The Speaker expressed solidarity with the teaching profession, describing the attacks on schools as disturbing and unacceptable.
“We feel the pains of our teachers and we sympathise with them. We are indeed in this together and we will not fold our arms. We are all stakeholders in this situation and must collectively seek solutions that will bring lasting peace and security to our schools and communities,” Obasa said.
The protest, led by Lagos NUT Chairman, Comrade Hassan Akintoye, highlighted growing concerns over the increasing wave of attacks on schools across the country. Akintoye referenced past incidents, including the Chibok and Dapchi school abductions, and lamented the recent Oyo State attack in which a teacher was reportedly beheaded while students suffered brutal treatment.
According to him, the recurring incidents have heightened fears among teachers and threatened the safety of learning environments nationwide.
“Schools must remain centres of learning and not theatres of violence and criminality,” Akintoye stated, urging governments at all levels to take urgent and decisive action to protect educators and students.
Responding to the concerns, Obasa reiterated that the Lagos Assembly has consistently advocated for the creation of State Police, arguing that decentralised policing would strengthen security and improve response to local threats.
He noted that President Bola Tinubu’s support for the initiative represents a significant step towards addressing the country’s insecurity challenges.
The Speaker also cautioned social media users against spreading unverified information capable of worsening public anxiety and undermining security efforts.
Obasa further stressed the need for collective action, calling on governments, security agencies, traditional rulers, parents, and civil society organisations to work together in safeguarding schools and ensuring they remain safe spaces for learning.
The protest comes amid renewed calls for stronger security measures to curb the rising trend of school-related abductions and violence across Nigeria.
