Nationwide Alert Raises Fears for Families as Police Warn of Possible Att@cks on Schools, Places of Worship

For countless Nigerian families preparing to send their children back to classrooms this term, a new security alert from the Nigeria Police Force has cast an unsettling shadow over what should be a routine return to school.

The Force has issued a nationwide warning over intelligence indicating increased mobilisation of terr%rist elements for possible coordinated att@cks on places of worship, schools, NYSC orientation camps and other vulnerable locations.

The warning, contained in a police wireless message dated September 13, 2026, obtained by SaharaReporters, was issued by the Force Department of Operations in Abuja and circulated to police formations and Commissioners of Police nationwide.

According to the message, the North-East, North-West, North-Central and parts of the South-West are areas of concern, with intelligence revealing the movement of armed elements from Katsina through Kaduna towards Plateau State.

Suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) operatives and local collaborators were reportedly conducting surveillance of potential targets.

What will likely worry parents most is the specific warning about learning institutions.

The Force said the thre@t to schools was particularly concerning, cautioning that att@cks could coincide with the resumption of the 2026/2027 academic session, when the concentration of students and staff could be exploited to cause mass casualties.

Police also warned that att@cks could occur ahead of the 2027 general elections to destabilise communities and create widespread fear.

In response, commanders have been directed to intensify surveillance, patrols, stop-and-search operations, access control and rapid-response arrangements, while Commissioners were ordered to tighten security at state borders, entry and exit routes and other critical approaches; measures many families will hope bring some reassurance in the days ahead.

Police further directed commanders to work with security agencies, school authorities, religious leaders and NYSC management to improve information sharing and establish early-warning mechanisms, so that communities are not left in the dark about emerging thre@ts.

The Force ordered that credible thre@ts or incidents be reported immediately to the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of Operations, while commands were directed to ensure strict compliance.