Fears of bandit incursions caused an early shutdown of schools in several regions of the country on Wednesday.
The sudden closures followed an armed raid on the UBE Secondary/Primary School in Iluke, Kogi State, alongside intelligence reports and rumors hinting at looming attacks in Edo and Niger States.
The developments occurred just weeks after a mass abduction of school pupils in Oyo State, an incident that drew widespread national and international condemnation over Nigeria’s deteriorating security environment.
Tragedy in Kogi State
Suspected bandits raided the UBE Secondary/Primary School in Iluke, located within the Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, resulting in the deaths of at least three individuals.
The casualties were identified as the school’s Vice Principal, Mr. Ganiyu Anifowose; a 70-year-old resident, Mr. Sunday Alhassan; and a six-year-old child, Sunday Ayele.
The Kogi State Police Command, via its spokesperson Salihu Afusat, confirmed the encounter.
Security forces managed to neutralize one of the bandits during a gun battle, while a member of the joint security team sustained gunshot wounds and is receiving medical care.
According to the official police statement:
“At about 10:00 a.m., the Command received distress information that a large number of heavily armed bandits, operating on about 40 motorcycles, had invaded Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu, with the suspected intention of abducting students and other residents of the community.
Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer, Kabba ‘A’ Division, immediately activated a coordinated security response by mobilising personnel from the Division, alongside operatives of the Police Mobile Force and the Command’s Tactical Teams. Other security personnel already deployed in the area, including military personnel and local vigilante groups, were equally alerted and joined the operation.”
Preliminary assessments by the police indicated that no students or residents were successfully abducted en masse, though investigations are ongoing to establish the full scope of the event.
The statement added:
“Regrettably, during the attack, three persons lost their lives.
They include Mr Ganiyu Anifowose, the Vice Principal of UBE Secondary/Primary School, Iluke; Mr Sunday Jacob Alhassan, aged 70 years; and one Sunday Ayele, aged six.
The Command commiserates with the families of the deceased and assures them that every effort is being made to bring the perpetrators to justice,”
Preemptive Closures in Edo State
In Edo State, security concerns prompted the government to temporarily shut down three institutions: Ososo Grammar School, Ososo Comprehensive High School, and Makeke Secondary School, all located in the Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.
The closures came after the Department of State Services (DSS) issued an intelligence warning regarding a planned mass abduction of schoolchildren in the Edo North Senatorial District. The warning was detailed in a letter sent to the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The DSS intelligence stemmed from the interrogation of two intercepted suspects who admitted that targeting schoolchildren was deemed more lucrative than abducting wealthy individuals, as it would attract stronger state interventions and larger ransom payouts.
A 25-year-old suspect, Emmanuel Momidu, was apprehended while allegedly conducting surveillance at Makeke Secondary School.
An anonymous high-ranking officer within the Edo State Police Command confirmed that security measures had already been ramped up around vulnerable schools near forested regions.
However, the officer expressed concern over how the confidential document reached the public:
“The security reports have already been acted upon. We have increased surveillance in the areas identified in the letter. We have also visited schools near the forest to double security.
But the leaked report and the media attention it gets will surely get to those planning these nefarious acts, but we are proactive and have already taken steps to ensure this does not happen. It’s not even clear how a document like that got to the public domain, and the person who leaked it has contravened the civil service rule.”
A circular from the State Ministry of Education, signed by Enodolomwanyi Otamere on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, clarified that students writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) would still be allowed to take their exams under tight security:
“All academic and non-academic activities in the affected schools are hereby suspended with immediate effect and shall remain so until further notice from the Ministry.
However, candidates currently participating in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination shall be allowed access to sit for their examinations under strict security arrangements and supervision as may be provided by the relevant security agencies and community stakeholders,”
Panic in Niger State and Official Refutations
Speculation regarding an imminent insurgent strike in Minna, Niger State, sparked panic on Wednesday, sending students fleeing home early.
A concerned parent, Chinenye Nwadike, recalled her panic upon hearing the rumors, noting that her children attend a Catholic school in Bosso:
“Nobody wants to risk their life. Our three children attend a Catholic primary and secondary school in Bosso. Immediately I learnt about the planned terrorists’ invasion of Minna, I started calling my husband to find out if our children had left school and were at the shop. I learnt that these terrorists target Christian schools. I understand all the children kidnapped from the Oyo school are Christians. Nothing must happen to our innocent children,”
An anonymous Reverend Sister who serves as a school principal noted that parents flooded her line with calls starting around 11:30 a.m.:
“From 11.30 am, when I heard the news that bandits had invaded Minna and were targeting Christian schools, I continued to receive calls from parents of my pupils wanting to find out if their children were safe and if they had closed the school for the day. I simply told them that I also heard the rumour but had not seen any terrorists.
I have also contacted the Niger state police command, and the PRO has assured me that there was nothing like that. I don’t know what to believe again because the way bandits are abducting school children and the government, both at the federal and state levels, appear helpless, is a major cause for concern.”
Another parent, Mr. Isah Usman, rushed to withdraw his son, criticizing the government’s approach to the crisis:
“This thing is very scary. The rate at which these bandits invade schools and abduct even little children is worrisome. The worst thing is that the government cannot do anything. They will say don’t pay ransom to bandits, but they don’t give any option except to let the abducted child die in the terrorists’ den.
This is wickedness. I suggest that the Niger State government should declare Thursday a public holiday because parents are still scared. Moreover, Friday is a public holiday for Democracy Day.”
The Niger State Police Command quickly moved to debunk the rumors.
Command spokesman Wasiu Abiodun labeled the reports false, stating that security teams visited the specified locations in Bosso, Kpakungu, Sabon-Wuse, and Lambata and found no evidence of an assault:
“The Niger State Police Command wishes to respond to the false and misleading report circulating in the public space, alleging that schools in Bosso, Kpakungu, Sabon-Wuse and Lambata areas were attacked by hoodlums.
The Command hereby states categorically that, having visited all the schools mentioned in these areas, no such attack occurred within the State.
The Police Command urges members of the public to disregard this false information, which is suspected to have originated from mischief makers to cause panic and fear in the public and school environment. However, an intelligence investigation has commenced to unravel the source of the false report, identify and arrest the mischief makers.”
State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Elleman, has ordered Divisional Police Officers to maintain tight coordination with educational institutions to guarantee security.
Demands for Accountability and Enhanced Security
Civil society groups and student organizations have reacted strongly to the unfolding crisis.
Amnesty International denounced the deadly attack in Iluke, calling on authorities to protect rural communities and learning environments, stating:
“No child should have to fear violence while pursuing education,”
The National Association of Okun Students (NAOS) similarly raised alarms regarding the overall breakdown of security across Okun Land.
The association’s National President, Olu Opeyemi, issued a statement demanding an emergency security summit involving regional leaders and security agencies:
“The frequency of these attacks is becoming unbearable.
Hardly a week passes without reports of kidnappings, attacks on travellers, invasions of communities, and loss of lives. Our people deserve to live in peace and carry out their daily activities without fear of being attacked by criminal elements,”
Opeyemi emphasized the necessity of moving past political rhetoric to design actionable local security and intelligence frameworks:
“We need to act now.
Every day of delay exposes more innocent people to danger. Our traditional rulers, political leaders, and security agencies must work together to design practical solutions that will strengthen intelligence gathering, community vigilance, rapid response mechanisms, and collaboration with security operatives,”
Oyo State Denies Terrorist Infiltration
Concurrently, the Oyo State Police Command refuted separate viral reports and voice notes claiming that members of the Lukarawa terrorist group had infiltrated forests near Ogbomoso and the Old Oyo National Park.
Command Public Relations Officer, Ayanlade Olayinka, dismissed the social media claims as completely unfounded:
“The Oyo State Police Command wishes to address and clarify a video and accompanying voice note currently circulating across various social media platforms alleging the movement and infiltration of suspected Lukarawa terrorists into forests around Ogbomoso and the Old Oyo National Park. The Command unequivocally rejects and dismisses the claims contained in the said video and voice note as false, misleading, and entirely without factual basis.
Comprehensive intelligence assessments and security reports available to the Command do not support nor suggest the existence of any such terrorist movement or infiltration within the areas mentioned.”
Despite dismissing the viral rumors, Olayinka noted that the command has deployed covert operatives and increased visibility patrols around border communities to preempt any security threats. The command urged residents to remain calm and vigilant, warning that spreading unverified reports only creates unnecessary panic and strains law enforcement resources.
