The Nigeria Police Force has issued a nationwide security alert following intelligence reports of increased mobilisation by terrorist groups, raising concerns about potential coordinated attacks on schools, worship centres, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camps, and other vulnerable public locations.
The alert, circulated by the Department of Operations, cautioned that such attacks could coincide with the commencement of the 2026/2027 academic session. Police formations across the country have therefore been directed to heighten surveillance and implement robust security measures around identified targets.
Intelligence Findings
According to the police, armed groups are reportedly moving from Katsina through Kaduna towards Plateau State. Meanwhile, suspected operatives of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and their local collaborators are said to be conducting reconnaissance and surveillance of potential targets.
Security Measures
In response, commissioners of police and other commands have been instructed to:
Intensify intelligence-led patrols and surveillance operations.
Conduct stop-and-search exercises and enforce access control at sensitive locations.
Strengthen rapid-response capabilities to counter potential threats.
Increase monitoring of border areas, entry and exit routes, and other strategic corridors to disrupt terrorist movements.
The Defence Headquarters confirmed that it is closely monitoring the situation. Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, stated simply: “We are monitoring the situation.”
NSCDC Response
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) also announced that it has reinforced its intelligence network nationwide. Spokesman Babafemi Afolabi revealed that tactical squads had already thwarted over 100 attempted attacks on schools. He emphasized that the Commandant-General has directed state commandants to remain on high alert.
Afolabi urged parents not to allow fear to prevent their children from returning to school, stressing that safeguarding educational institutions requires collaboration among security agencies, communities, and private security providers.
Expert Opinions
Former Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Ali Amodu, advised the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, vehicles, or movements. He underscored the need for stronger preventive measures and intelligence gathering, particularly as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.
Similarly, former Director of the Department of State Services, Mike Ejiofor, called on security agencies to treat the warning with utmost seriousness and deploy preventive measures before any attack materializes. He also urged citizens to provide timely information on suspicious activities in their communities.
Parents’ Concerns
The National Secretary of the Uche Onyia-led faction of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Ibrahim Nabayi, expressed growing parental anxiety over the safety of children in schools. Nabayi called for:
Deployment of advanced surveillance technology capable of detecting suspicious activities within a five-kilometre radius of schools.
Revival and effective implementation of the Safe School Initiative.
Stronger cooperation among parent-teacher associations, communities, and security agencies.
He further suggested that pupils in schools located in highly vulnerable areas could be temporarily relocated to safer environments, rather than having schools shut down indefinitely.
Background
Concerns are heightened by past incidents, including the May 2026 attacks on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where 49 pupils, teachers, and a toddler were abducted, and a mathematics teacher was killed in captivity.
