Security agencies heighten surveillance over schools, NYSC camps amid terror alert

Security agencies have heightened surveillance around schools, NYSC orientation camps, places of worship and other vulnerable locations following intelligence indicating plans by terrorists to launch coordinated attacks across the country.

 

The Nigeria Police Force, in a security alert circulated to its formations nationwide, warned of increased mobilisation of terrorist elements for possible attacks, which could coincide with the resumption of the 2026/2027 academic session.

 

According to the police communication, intelligence available to the Department of Operations indicated an “increased mobilisation of terrorist elements for possible coordinated attacks” on places of worship, schools, NYSC orientation camps and other vulnerable locations.

 

The alert was circulated to Assistant Inspectors-General of Police overseeing Zones 1 to 17, Mobile Police units, counter-terrorism and other specialised formations, as well as Commissioners of Police across the states.

 

The police said intelligence also indicated the movement of armed elements from Katsina through Kaduna towards Plateau State.

 

It further disclosed that suspected Islamic State West Africa Province operatives and local collaborators were conducting surveillance and reconnaissance of potential targets.

 

The Force described the threat to learning institutions as particularly concerning, warning that attacks could coincide with the reopening of schools for the new academic session.

 

It consequently directed affected formations and commands to intensify security around schools, places of worship, NYSC camps and other vulnerable locations.

 

“All personnel should maintain heightened vigilance and report suspicious persons, vehicles, movements or objects through established channels,” the police said.

 

Commanders were also directed to intensify intelligence-led surveillance, patrols, stop-and-search operations, access control and rapid-response arrangements around identified vulnerable locations.

 

Commissioners of Police were further instructed to tighten security at state borders, entry and exit routes and other critical approaches to prevent the infiltration and movement of armed elements.

 

The Defence Headquarters said it was monitoring the situation.

 

“We are monitoring the situation,” the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, said.

 

Similarly, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps said it had strengthened its intelligence network across state commands to protect schools and other learning institutions.

 

The NSCDC spokesperson, Babafemi Afolabi, said intelligence-driven operations by federal and tactical squads had thwarted more than 100 attempted attacks on schools.

 

He said the Commandant-General had briefed state commandants and directed officers and men to remain vigilant.

 

“All tactical squads, officers, and men of the Corps in different state commands — the Commandant General has already briefed them through their commandants. So, now that schools have resumed, they’ve doubled their intelligence network, and I’m very sure that nothing of such will happen,” he said.

 

Afolabi urged parents to allow their children to return to school, while stressing the need for greater cooperation between communities and security agencies.

 

“I would advise parents and their wards to just let them free to go to school. Nothing of such will happen. That’s why we’ve been able to work in collaboration with other stakeholders, even the community leaders,” he said.

 

“This is the time we have to work and we have to do it all together because security is a collective responsibility. When they notice anything going on in their area, they should quickly alert us and let us know.”

 

He added that the NSCDC was also working with private security personnel to strengthen intelligence gathering and early warning systems.

 

Former Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Ali Amodu, described the alert as part of the responsibility of security agencies to gather and share intelligence to prevent attacks.

 

He urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons, movements and vehicles, particularly around worship centres.

 

“Security is everybody’s business. I must be very frank with you, over the years, we Nigerians have taken things for granted. It is now dawning on us that there is a need for us to be very cautious in what we do and to be alert,” Amodu said.

 

Former Director of the Department of State Services, Mike Ejiofor, also urged Nigerians and security agencies to take the alert seriously and immediately adopt preventive measures.

 

“If you get such an advisory, we should take it seriously so that people are not caught unawares,” Ejiofor said.

 

He stressed that preventing attacks was a collective responsibility involving security agencies, governments and citizens.

 

“Now that we have preventive information, we should be sitting up. All of us—the military, the police, the state government, the Federal Government—everybody must be involved. But most importantly, the people must be security conscious,” he said.

 

Ejiofor urged residents to report suspicious activities to security agencies, stressing the importance of the “see something, say something” approach.

 

Meanwhile, the National Secretary of the Uche Onyia-led faction of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, Ibrahim Nabayi, said parents were increasingly worried about sending their children back to school amid the security threats.

 

“Parents are worried now, parents are scared of sending children back to school,” Nabayi said.

 

He called on governments at all levels to urgently strengthen security around schools and deploy technology capable of detecting threats approaching learning institutions.

 

Nabayi said schools remained vulnerable because the security personnel available in many institutions might not be adequately equipped to confront heavily armed attackers.

 

He also called for the revival and proper implementation of the Safe School Initiative, noting that the programme had previously involved mapping schools for improved coordination, surveillance and rapid response.

 

Nabayi urged stronger collaboration between government, security agencies, communities and parent-teacher associations, stressing that residents should report suspicious activities around schools.

 

He also suggested relocating pupils in highly vulnerable areas to safer schools rather than shutting down institutions completely.

 

On parents’ concerns, Nabayi said their fears were legitimate.

 

“For parents who are apprehensive, it is a genuine fear, and I respect that. I cannot send my child where he is not safe,” he said.

 

He urged the government to review the Safe School Initiative and ensure that security measures were actively implemented in schools.

 

“The most unfortunate thing in this country is the somersault in policy decision-making. And the issue of the Safe School Initiative—we have been clamoring for the Safe School Initiative right from the attack on the Chibok girls,” Nabayi said.

 

The latest alert comes against the backdrop of previous attacks and abductions targeting schools and other public institutions.

 

In May 2026, dozens of students and teachers were abducted in separate school attacks. 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 killed while in captivity.

 

The Department of State Services had also 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.