Two prestigious Lagos schools, Avi-Cenna International School and Grange School, have suspended physical classes following a reported explosion threat.

At Avi-Cenna, the closure was announced in a letter signed by Paul Olubajo and addressed to parents and guardians. The management stated that it had received a threat via text message and promptly informed the police. A special unit was deployed to the school to assess the situation.

Despite police assurances that the premises were safe, the school maintained the temporary closure, citing the safety of students and staff as the top priority. The management apologised for the disruption and promised to keep parents informed of further developments.

The letter read in part:

“We wish to inform you that we received a text message about a fire explosion threat. The police authorities were immediately informed, and they deployed their special unit with their devices to the school. After a thorough assessment of the entire premises, they confirmed that the premises are safe. However, the school will remain closed for today.”

Similarly, Grange School announced that the institution would remain closed on Thursday. School authorities, led by Richard McMahon, stated that while there was no immediate danger, precautionary measures were necessary. Students were advised that online classes would continue during the closure, with parents notified directly about scheduled lessons.

“The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families remain our highest priority, and this temporary closure allows us to ensure that all protocols are properly observed,” the statement added.

Police Response

The Lagos State Police Command confirmed that the threat had been neutralised. According to Abimbola Adebisi, police spokesperson, a team led by Commissioner Olohundare Jimoh conducted a thorough sweep of the school premises. The team included experts from Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD-CBRN) and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

The sweep covered classrooms, administrative offices, halls, and playgrounds. No Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) or hazardous materials were found. The police have launched an investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible for sending the threat.