SECURITY UPDATE: Police to enhance patrols around secondary schools in Akwa Ibom

In response to the rising concerns of fake news, cybercrime, cultism, and other security threats in secondary schools across Akwa Ibom State, the police command has announced plans to increase patrols around public schools.

This initiative, according to the Commissioner of Police, Baba Muhammed Azare, will include the deployment of additional school safety officers, improved intelligence gathering, and a commitment to prompt responses to reported incidents.

CP Azare spoke during a strategic meeting with the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ubong Umoh, senior officials from the education ministry, and selected secondary school principals.

Speaking at the occasion, CP Azare expressed deep concern over the growing trend of students deliberately generating and circulating fake security alerts, doctored videos, and misleading social media posts aimed at causing panic and disrupting academic activities.

He described such acts as criminal and warned that offenders would be prosecuted under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act.

The Commissioner also noted increasing involvement of students in impersonation, internet fraud, online bullying, drug abuse, cultism and other deviant behaviours.

Azare reaffirmed that Akwa Ibom remains one of the safest states in Nigeria, even as he assured continued collaboration with school stakeholders to maintain safe, peaceful and digitally responsible learning environments.

He directed school authorities to conduct cyber-safety sensitisations, report incidents promptly and reinforce monitoring of students’ access to digital devices.

At the meeting, the Principal of Mary Hanney Secondary School, Oron, Mrs Emma Ubongabasi James, clarified that last week’s viral video alleging a kidnap incident in the school was fabricated by a 15-year-old student.

She explained that the student later confessed that “nothing happened,” even though she initially claimed masked men invaded the school.

It was also said that the student was not in school on the day she claimed the incident occurred, while the video was recorded with her mother’s phone.

In his remark, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ubong Umoh, praised Governor Umo Eno for prioritising school safety, noting that proactive steps by the administration have kept public schools peaceful.

The Commissioner emphasised responsible use of digital devices, especially as his Ministry continues the distribution of learning tablets.

Additionally, the Chairman of the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Public Schools (ANCOPPS) in the state, Elder Ime Akpakwa, applauded the police for their cooperation but criticised some parents, particularly mothers, for encouraging indiscipline by allowing students to come to school with sophisticated gadgets.

He lamented that many students misuse the devices to secretly record teachers, and that mothers often storm schools to protest when such gadgets are seized.