Nigeria: Police enhance security around schools and places of worship
An operational note dated September 13 instructs police commands to increase protection for schools, places of worship, and National Youth Service Corps camps in response to intelligence indicating possible coordinated attacks.
The Nigerian police have instructed their commands to immediately bolster the protection of schools, places of worship, and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps, following intelligence reports indicating a risk of coordinated attacks in several regions of the country. The directive is outlined in an operational message dated September 13, 2026.
The document, issued by the Operations Department at police headquarters in Abuja under reference CB: 0900/FDPS/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL38/68, identifies the North-East, North-West, Central-North, and certain areas of the South-West as regions requiring heightened vigilance. It has been disseminated to zone commanders, state police commissioners, and various specialized units.
The note also reports movements of armed individuals from Katsina State, through Kaduna, towards Plateau. It raises suspicions of reconnaissance being conducted by members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and local collaborators around potential targets. These elements are based on intelligence and do not constitute an announcement of an ongoing attack.
Commands have been ordered to intensify patrols, surveillance, checkpoints, access security, and rapid response capabilities around sites deemed vulnerable. Police commissioners are also required to enhance border controls in their states and along major thoroughfares, while coordinating alerts with schools, religious leaders, the NYSC, and other security services.
At the time the content was made public, the document had not yet received separate public confirmation from police leadership. Premium Times reports that police spokesperson Ani Iniedu had not yet provided a definitive response to their request for comment.
A separate military note, dated September 9 and attributed to the Nigerian Army’s 2nd Division, had already reported similar risks targeting churches, schools, and NYSC camps. It also mentioned movements from Katsina towards Plateau and called for enhanced protective measures around exposed sites.
Finally, the police directive requires units to promptly report any credible threats or incidents to the Inspector General of Police and the Operations Department, along with feedback on the security measures that have been implemented.
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