Terror Attack Alert: States, Police, Army Tighten Security Around Likely Targets

| Threat should be taken seriously, says Arewa Forum

BY GODWIN ENNA, ABDULLAHI OLESIN, ABU NMODU, ACHOR ABIMAJE, AZA MSUE, ADEBAYO WAHEED, JOSHUA DADA, ALO ABIOLA, FELIX IGBEKOYI, EMMANUEL MGBEAHURIKE, INIOBONG EKPONTA, HUSSAINI HAMMANGABDO

Security agencies across the country have intensified operations around schools, worship centres, NYSC orientation camps and other vulnerable locations following a security report warning of possible coordinated terrorist attacks.

The development has prompted the police, military, paramilitary agencies and state governments to deploy additional personnel to flashpoints, borders and other areas considered vulnerable to attacks.

The heightened security measures followed a Nigeria Police Force alert warning of increased mobilisation by terrorist elements and possible coordinated attacks on places of worship, schools, NYSC orientation camps and other vulnerable locations.

The alert identified parts of the North-East, North-West, North-Central and South-West as areas requiring particular attention.

The police directive, contained in a September 13 wireless message from the Force Department of Operations, Abuja, was circulated to police formations nationwide and marked “Security General” and “Treat as Very Important.”

The directive ordered commanders to intensify intelligence-led surveillance, patrols, stop-and-search operations, access control and rapid-response arrangements around vulnerable locations.

Commissioners of police were also directed to strengthen security at state borders, entry and exit routes, and other approaches that could be used by armed elements.

Katsina Deploys 708 Vigilantes

In Katsina State, the government and security agencies have stepped up preventive measures following the alert.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Yusuf Sulaiman Jibia, said the government had approved the recruitment and deployment of 708 additional vigilantes to protect public schools, particularly in security-prone communities.

He said public schools had also been directed to establish security committees involving school authorities, security personnel and community representatives. Mobile police officers are being deployed to vulnerable boarding schools under the state’s Safe Schools Initiative.

The Katsina State Police Command, through its spokesman, Abubakar Aliyu Sadiq, said security had been heightened across the state, including frontline local government areas.

He said the command was intensifying intelligence-led patrols, stop-and-search operations and monitoring of entry and exit routes, while strengthening collaboration with security agencies, religious leaders and educational institutions.

Residents were urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons, vehicles or activities to security agencies.

Benue Deploys Operatives to Flashpoints

In Benue State, the police command said it had stepped up surveillance, patrols and raids in flashpoints.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Peter Orchia Aondongu, said security personnel had been deployed to rural schools, internally displaced persons’ camps and other vulnerable areas.

“In general, even apart from the preparation for the 2027 elections, we have been doing our work to protect lives and property,” he said.

“We have put our intelligence team on the ground to get credible intelligence. Our tactical teams have deployed in rural schools, IDPs, flashpoints, among other locations.”

Kwara Tightens Border Security

In Kwara State, the Police Command has also intensified security operations following the alert.

Although the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, could not respond to an enquiry because of Vice President Kashim Shettima’s visit to Ilorin, a senior police officer told LEADERSHIP Friday that the command was leaving nothing to chance.

The coordinator, Joint Security Watch Kwara South, Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, revealed that the state government had integrated the Army, Police, DSS and Civil Defence into a coordinated security strategy.

He said security agencies had deployed additional personnel to Kwara South, with patrols extended to schools and churches.

Oyin-Zubair said the Army and NSCDC had also commenced operations around the Kwara-Kogi border, while the DSS was conducting covert surveillance.

According to him, local hunters and vigilantes had been mobilised in Ifelodun, Isin, Oke-Ero and Irepodun local government areas to provide intelligence.

He also urged churches to strengthen access control and establish security committees, while school authorities should maintain visitor registers and conduct routine security checks.

Niger Boosts Security Operations

In Niger State, the government has provided additional operational support to security agencies.

The Commissioner for Homeland Security, Maurice Justin Magaji, said the government had purchased operational vehicles and distributed them to security personnel to increase visibility at vulnerable locations.

Police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun said area commanders and divisional police officers had been directed to intensify visibility patrols.

Plateau, Osun Step Up Vigilance

In Plateau State, the Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, said it was aware of the security alert and prepared to prevent any breach of public peace.

The task force’s media information officer, Captain Polycarp Oteh, urged residents to remain vigilant about their surroundings and report suspicious activities to security agencies.

In Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke urged residents to report suspicious movements and individuals to security agencies.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor particularly urged residents in border communities to report any unusual influx of strangers.

The state police command also urged residents to report suspicious movements.

Army, Traditional Rulers Join Forces

In Oyo State, the Okere of Sakiland, Oba Oyeniyi Olabisi Oyedepo III, and the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen Auwalu Mahmuda, called for vigilance among residents of Saki and adjoining communities.

The traditional ruler urged traditional and religious leaders, community stakeholders, parents, school authorities and residents to serve as watchdogs in their communities.

The GOC, during a visit to the Igbeti-Igboho-Sepetari Road in Olorunsogo Local Government Area, charged troops to remain alert and vigilant in their areas of responsibility.

Ekiti, Delta and Imo Intensify Operations

The Ekiti State Police Command said it was not taking the reported threat lightly.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Sunday Abutu, said the police had intensified intelligence gathering, surveillance and patrols around critical institutions, including schools, churches and NYSC facilities, in collaboration with other security agencies.

In Delta State, the Commissioner of Police, Samuel Erale, stressed the need for security and intelligence agencies to share information promptly and coordinate their responses to threats.

The state government, according to the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, had equipped security agencies and encouraged joint operations to secure the state.

In Imo State, the Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso, ordered enhanced security operations.

Police spokesman Henry Okoye said the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and Violent Crime Response Unit had been deployed with available operational assets, in collaboration with community vigilantes, to intensify intelligence-led operations.

Akwa Ibom Assures Residents

In Akwa Ibom State, Governor Umo Eno said his administration would continue to support security agencies to enable them to take proactive measures against criminal elements.

He said the government would continue to fund the police, military, NSCDC, DSS and other paramilitary agencies.

The governor spoke when the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 6, Calabar, Cross River State, visited the state.

ACF Urges Proactive Response

Meanwhile, the Arewa Consultative Forum has urged security agencies to take the alert seriously and adopt proactive measures to protect Nigerians.

ACF National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad Baba, said the public should also remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies.

He said the security alert provided an opportunity for authorities and citizens to take preventive measures before any attack occurred.

“There is hope. While the security agents have been alerted, that assumes they will take all necessary steps, including proactive steps, to ensure that the green predictions do not come to light,” he said.

Muhammad Baba said Nigerians had experienced similar threats in the past and urged authorities to ensure that the situation did not undermine public safety or the 2027 general elections.

He added that where attacks could not be completely prevented, security agencies should be prepared to mitigate their impact.

The nationwide response comes as the 2026/2027 academic session gets underway, placing renewed focus on protecting schools and other locations where large numbers of people gather.