Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, has solicited the support of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Agency, LNSC, in curbing cultism and other social vices in primary schools in the state.

Its Chairman, Dr. Abdul Ganiyu Shopeyin, sought for the partnership when the board visited the LNSC headquarter’s Safety Arena, at Oshodi, Lagos, saying SUBEB was saddled with the responsibility of managing public primary schools in the state and ensurkng that lives of pupils and property of the schools were safe.

Shopeyin lamented that the rate of cult related activities in primary schools in the state was alarming, saying it was hard to note that they have observed cultism in primary schools, apart from this, kidnapping and other crimes were also affecting primary school pupils.

He said the board deemed it fit to synergise with the agency with a view to ensuring the operatives had direct contact with primary schools to tackle cultism and other inherent vices, urging the LNSC to fashion out strategies that would allow its members render assistance in dousing the threat of cultism and other vices in schools.

In his response, LNSC Chairman, Israel Ajao, who lamented the challenge of shortage of manpower in the agency, promised to fashion out ways to grant SUBEB ‘s request, saying the manpower shortage was due to deaths, resignation and abscondment of officers.

Ajao, former Deputy Inspector-General of Police said the manpower of the agency had dropped from its initial 5,700 to 5, 603 which was not enough to cover a densely populated state like Lagos according to United Nations Standard.

According to Ajao who was a one-time Lagos Police Commissioner, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had promised to meet the challenge of manpower shortage and other challenges the agency was currently facing.

Ajao promised that agency’s operatives would monitor primary schools at critical hours which included resumption time, closing time, during the end of the term activities and sporting activities.

LNSC Board member representing Ikeja Division, Tunde Aboyade, said with the establishment of contact with primary schools’ officials, formation of security clubs was feasible, saying this would allow operatives the opportunity to go into schools to give lectures and gather information.

Aboyade noted that the SUBEB visit was a step in the right direction, saying “cultism was becoming a monster, and if not quickly addressed, could snowball into something uncontrollable.”

LNSC Board member representing Lagos Division, Ishola Laguda, suggested the introduction of security studies in primary schools curriculum, urging primary school officials to desist from associating with individuals with questionable characters.

LNSC Executive Secretary, Gboyega Bajulaiye, said the use of interpersonal approach could give LNSC the opportunity to get information about black spots.