Terrorists, Informants Spying On Schools, Other Targets – Police

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 planned attacks that could coincide with the resumption of the 2026/2027 academic session.

It stated that intelligence available to the Department of Operations indicated an increased mobilisation of terrorist elements from Katsina through Kaduna towards Plateau State for possible coordinated attacks on the vulnerable locations.

The communication was circulated to Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, Mobile Police units, counter-terrorism and other specialised formations, as well as Commissioners of Police in all the states.

It was also copied to departments and formations at Force Headquarters, including Intelligence, Finance and Administration, the Directorate of Training and Development, the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Research and Planning, ICT and the Force Security Department.

The Force also said suspected Islamic State West Africa Province operatives and local collaborators were conducting surveillance and reconnaissance of potential targets.

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

Speaking on security arrangements for the reopening of schools, the NSCDC spokesperson, Babafemi Afolabi, said intelligence-driven operations by federal and tactical squads had thwarted more than 100 attempted attacks on schools.