The Katsina State Government has said it has completed plans to recruit 708 vigilantes and deploy them to protect schools especially in security-prone areas of the state.

The Commissioner for Basic and Social Education, Yusuf Jibia, made this known at a press briefing to commemorate the 2026 International Day to Protect Education from Attack, observed globaly on September 9.

Jibia said the state governor, Dr Dikko Radda, had since given approval for recruitment of the 708 vigilantes, and that their deployment would further strengthen the protection of schools and students across the state.

The commissioner also said as way of ensuring security at schools, the state government had directed public schools to establish security committees comprising school principals, members of staff and representatives of security agencies operating within the area.

He said the committees would go a long way to help ensure prompt communication and response whenever security threats were detected.

He further said adequate security arrangements had been made for secondary schools, particularly boarding schools, where several number of mobile police personnel have been deployed.

He said government was also strengthening physical security infrastructure in schools under construction, particularly through the provision of perimeter fencing.

He said the measure was important because a school environment characterised by fear and insecurity could undermine effective learning and produce poor educational outcomes.

Jibia added that the state had merged some boarding secondary schools having low student populations as way to improve their management, learning activities and security.

He said so far, about four to six schools have been merged with other schools within their respective council areas.

The commissioner also said the state government, under the Safe Schools Policy, has established a Safe Schools Technical Working Group comprising relevant stakeholders including government agencies, security institutions, development partners and civil society organisations.

He said the committee would work with Save the Children International to review the policy and develop practical and result-oriented implementation plan focusing on school security, child protection, emergency preparedness and response coordination among stakeholders, and continuity of learning during emergencies.

Jibia assured that the state government was not resting on its oars in efforts to ensure safe schools environment that would promote safe teaching and learning process.

He, however, said government alone cannot do it all, even as he called on people to speak out whenever they see suspicious persons or activities around schools in the state.