POLICE HEIGHTEN SECURITY AT SCHOOLS, NYSC CAMPS OVER TERROR ATTACK ALERT
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By:Aminat Tajudeen
Security agencies have intensified surveillance around schools, NYSC orientation camps, places of worship and other vulnerable locations following intelligence suggesting that terrorists may be planning coordinated attacks across the country.
The Nigeria Police Force, in a security alert circulated to its formations nationwide, warned of possible attacks that could coincide with the reopening of schools for the 2026/2027 academic session.
The alert, issued by the Department of Operations, said intelligence had indicated an “increased mobilisation of terrorist elements for possible coordinated attacks” on schools, places of worship, NYSC orientation camps and other vulnerable targets.
The communication was sent to Assistant Inspectors-General of Police overseeing Zones 1 to 17, Mobile Police formations, counter-terrorism units and other specialised formations, as well as Commissioners of Police across the states.
It was also distributed to various departments at Force Headquarters, including Intelligence, Finance and Administration, the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Training and Development, Research and Planning, ICT and the Force Security Department.
According to the police, intelligence had also revealed the movement of armed individuals from Katsina through Kaduna towards Plateau State.
The Force further disclosed that suspected Islamic State West Africa Province operatives and their local collaborators were conducting surveillance and reconnaissance of potential targets.
It described the threat to educational institutions as particularly worrisome, noting that the suspected attacks could occur around the time schools resume for the 2026/2027 academic year.
The Department of Operations consequently directed police formations and commands to increase security around schools, places of worship, NYSC camps and other identified vulnerable locations.
Personnel were instructed to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious individuals, vehicles, movements or objects through established security channels.
Commanders were also directed to strengthen intelligence-led surveillance, patrols, stop-and-search operations, access control and rapid-response mechanisms around vulnerable locations.
Commissioners of Police were further ordered to tighten security along state borders, entry and exit routes and other strategic corridors to prevent the infiltration and movement of armed groups.
The Defence Headquarters said it was closely monitoring the situation.
“We are monitoring the situation,” the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, said.
Similarly, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps said it had expanded its intelligence network across its state commands to protect schools and other educational institutions.
The NSCDC spokesperson, Babafemi Afolabi, said intelligence-driven operations by federal and tactical teams had prevented more than 100 attempted attacks on schools.
He said the Commandant-General had briefed state commandants and instructed officers and personnel to remain on high alert.
Afolabi urged parents not to be discouraged from sending their children back to school, while stressing the importance of cooperation between communities and security agencies.
He said the NSCDC was also working with private security personnel nationwide to improve intelligence gathering and ensure that suspicious activities were reported promptly.
Former Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Ali Amodu, and former Director of the Department of State Services, Mike Ejiofor, also urged Nigerians and security agencies to remain vigilant in response to the alert.
Amodu described the warning as part of the responsibility of security agencies to gather intelligence, issue timely alerts and prepare citizens against possible threats.
He urged members of the public to report suspicious persons, movements and vehicles, particularly around places of worship and other public gathering points.
Ejiofor similarly advised security agencies to treat the intelligence seriously and immediately implement preventive measures.
He stressed that preventing terrorist attacks was a collective responsibility involving the military, police, intelligence agencies, government and members of the public.
Meanwhile, the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria expressed concern over parents’ fears about sending their children back to school amid the heightened security threats.
The association’s National Secretary, Ibrahim Nabayi, urged governments at all levels to strengthen security around schools and deploy technology capable of detecting threats before they reach educational institutions.
Nabayi also called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, communities and parent-teacher associations, noting that residents had an important role to play in reporting suspicious activities.
He suggested that pupils in highly vulnerable areas could temporarily be moved to safer schools instead of shutting down educational institutions entirely.
The latest security alert comes amid previous attacks and abductions targeting schools and public institutions.
In May 2026, dozens of pupils and teachers were abducted in separate attacks on schools. On May 15, armed men reportedly attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting 49 pupils, teachers and a toddler. A mathematics teacher was also reportedly killed while in captivity.
The Department of State Services had also previously alerted Muslim and Christian leaders in Osun State to an alleged plan by terrorists to attack places of worship and other public gathering centres ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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