What Imo Schools Should Do in Case of Terrorist Attack. NPSSVFS EMERGENCY SCHOOL THREAT RESPONSE PROTOCOL Editor’s note: A prominent citizen of Imo State shared this information with Umuaka Times for publication.

Public Advisory for Schools in Imo State

Applicable Where a School Receives a Specific Threat of Kidnapping, Abduction, Armed Attack, or Violence

Legal and Policy Foundation. This protocol is derived from the provisions of: The National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools (NPSSVFS), Federal Ministry of Education, 2021.

The Minimum Standards for Safe Schools, Federal Ministry of Education, 2021.

These national policy documents require schools, education authorities, security agencies, parents, and communities to work together in preventing and responding to threats that may endanger learners, teachers, and educational facilities.

Fundamental Principle: Any specific threat directed at a school must be treated as credible until competent authorities formally assess and determine otherwise.

Schools should not bear the sole responsibility of deciding whether a threat is genuine. The responsibility for assessing risks and coordinating appropriate responses lies with government institutions and security agencies charged with protecting children and educational facilities.

STEP 1: REQUEST AN IMMEDIATE FORMAL THREAT ASSESSMENT

Why This Is Necessary: The National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools requires the identification, assessment, and management of risks affecting schools.

Immediate Action Required: Upon receiving a threat, the school should immediately request a formal written threat assessment from:

Imo State Police Command: Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Imo State Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education

Relevant School Quality Assurance Authorities.

Questions Requiring Written Responses.

Authorities should provide answers to the following:

Has a formal threat assessment been conducted?

What assessment methodology was used?

What level of risk has been assigned?

What mitigation measures have been activated?

Which official is responsible for the final assessment?

STEP 2: ACTIVATE THE SCHOOL SAFETY COMMITTEE

Why This Is Necessary.

The Safe Schools Policy promotes stakeholder participation and school-based safety management structures.

Immediate Action Required

An emergency meeting should be convened involving:

School Management

Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Leadership

School-Based Management Committee (SBMC)

Teacher Representatives

Parent Representatives

Relevant Security Agencies

Matters to Be Documented

The meeting should record:

Nature of the threat

Identified vulnerabilities

Immediate protective measures

Parent communication strategy

Recommendations regarding school operations.

Comprehensive minutes should be taken and preserved.

STEP 3: NOTIFY EDUCATION AUTHORITIES IN WRITING

Why This Is Necessary.

The Safe Schools Framework places responsibility on education authorities to support emergency response and school safety initiatives.

State-Level Notifications.

Formal letters should be addressed to: Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Imo State

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education

Director of School Quality Assurance Services

Relevant Zonal or Area Education Officers

Local Government Notifications.

Copies should also be sent to: Education Secretary, Local Government Education Authority (LGEA)

Chairman of the Local Government Area.

Schools should retain copies of all correspondence for future reference.

STEP 4: REVIEW THE SCHOOL SAFETY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN

Why This Is Necessary

National policy requires every school to maintain emergency preparedness and response mechanisms.

Areas Requiring Immediate Review.

Schools should examine: Emergency response procedures

Evacuation plans

Lockdown procedures

Internal and external communication systems

Emergency contact directories

Staff duties and responsibilities during emergencies.

Where no safety plan exists, the school should formally notify relevant authorities that this policy requirement has not been implemented.

STEP 5: INFORM PARENTS AND GUARDIANS

Why This Is Necessary.

The Safe Schools Policy recognizes parents and communities as critical stakeholders in school safety.

Information to Be Communicated

Parents should be informed:

That a threat has been received;

That relevant authorities have been notified;

What immediate actions have been taken;

What additional support or protection measures are being requested. Parents should also be updated regarding any temporary changes to school operations.

STEP 6: REQUEST A JOINT MULTI-AGENCY SECURITY MEETING WITHIN 24 HOURS

Why This Is Necessary.

The Safe Schools Framework promotes coordinated responses involving education authorities, security agencies, communities, and school stakeholders.

Recommended Participants

The meeting should include: Divisional Police Officer (DPO)

Area Commander

NSCDC Representative

Ministry of Education Representative

School Quality Assurance Representative

PTA Leadership

School Management

School-Based Management Committee (SBMC)

Critical Questions to Be Addressed

What investigation has been conducted?

What risk level has been assigned?

Which agencies have been mobilized?

What additional protection measures are being implemented?

What criteria will determine whether the school remains open?

Which official will assume responsibility for that decision?

STEP 7: CONSIDER TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF PHYSICAL CLASSES

Why This Is Necessary.

The foremost objective of the Safe Schools Framework is the protection of learners and educational personnel.

Circumstances Requiring Consideration.

A school may consider temporary alternative arrangements where:

The threat is specific;

The threat is time-bound;

Adequate risk assessment has not been completed;

Protective measures remain uncertain or insufficient.

Any decision taken should be properly documented.

ACCOUNTABILITY QUESTIONS FOR RELEVANT AUTHORITIES.

Schools have the right to seek answers to the following:

Has the school been assessed under the Safe Schools Framework?

When was the last safety assessment conducted?

What recommendations emerged from that assessment?

Which recommendations have been implemented?

Which recommendations remain outstanding?

Who is responsible for implementation?

Who is responsible for determining whether the school can safely remain open?

What emergency measures have been activated in response to the current threat?

MAINTAIN COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION.

Schools should preserve copies of:

Threat letters, messages, or communications

Reports made to security agencies

Correspondence with education authorities

Minutes of emergency meetings

Responses received from authorities

Risk assessment reports

Security recommendations and directives

Proper documentation is essential for accountability, transparency, and future review.

Final Advisory. Under the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools (NPSSVFS) and the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools, school safety is a shared responsibility involving government agencies, security institutions, educational authorities, parents, community leaders, and school management.

Any school that receives a specific threat of kidnapping, abduction, armed attack, or violence is entitled to demand evidence that:

A formal risk assessment has been conducted;

Appropriate protective measures have been activated;

A clearly identified authority has assumed responsibility for decisions regarding the continued operation of the school.

Government institutions must demonstrate that they have fulfilled their obligations under Nigeria’s Safe Schools Framework to protect every child entrusted to their care.

“Safe Schools, Secure Learners, Protected Futures.”