The Nigeria Police Force has issued a nationwide security alert over intelligence indicating increased mobilisation of terrorist elements for possible coordinated attacks on schools, worship centres, NYSC orientation camps and other vulnerable locations.
The alert, issued by the Department of Operations, warned that the planned attacks could coincide with the 2026/2027 academic session, prompting heightened surveillance and security measures around potential targets.
According to the police, armed elements were reportedly moving from Katsina through Kaduna towards Plateau State, while suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) operatives and their local collaborators were conducting surveillance and reconnaissance of potential targets.
The force directed commissioners of police and other formations to intensify intelligence-led surveillance, patrols, stop-and-search operations, access control and rapid-response measures.
Police formations were also instructed to strengthen monitoring of border areas, entry and exit routes and other strategic locations to prevent the movement of suspected terrorists and their collaborators.
Defence Headquarters Monitoring Situation
The Defence Headquarters said it was monitoring the situation.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, said, “We are monitoring the situation.”
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) also said it had strengthened its intelligence network nationwide following the security alert.
NSCDC spokesman Babafemi Afolabi said tactical squads had thwarted more than 100 attempted attacks on schools.
He added that the Commandant-General had directed state commandants to remain vigilant.
Afolabi urged parents not to allow fear to prevent their children from returning to school, stressing that protecting schools required cooperation among security agencies, communities and private security personnel.
Experts Urge Vigilance
Former Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Ali Amodu, urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons, vehicles and movements to security agencies.
Amodu said security agencies must strengthen preventive measures and intelligence gathering, particularly as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.
A former Director of the Department of State Services, Mike Ejiofor, also urged security agencies to take the warning seriously and deploy preventive measures before any attack could occur.
Ejiofor called on members of the public to provide security agencies with timely information about suspicious activities in their communities.
Parents Demand Stronger School Security
Meanwhile, the National Secretary of the Uche Onyia-led faction of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, Ibrahim Nabayi, said parents were increasingly concerned about the safety of their children following the security alert.
Nabayi called for stronger security around schools and urged the government to deploy technology capable of detecting suspicious activities within a five-kilometre radius of schools.
He also called for the revival and proper implementation of the Safe School Initiative, as well as closer cooperation among parent-teacher associations, communities and security agencies.
Nabayi suggested that pupils in schools located in areas considered highly vulnerable could be temporarily moved to safer locations rather than having such schools shut indefinitely.
Previous School Attacks Raise Concern
The concerns followed previous attacks on schools, including an incident in May 2026 when three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State were reportedly attacked.
The incident reportedly resulted in the abduction of 49 pupils, teachers and a toddler, while a mathematics teacher was killed in captivity.
The DSS had also warned Muslim and Christian leaders in Osun State of an alleged plan by terrorists to attack places of worship and other public gatherings ahead of the 2027 elections.
