Schools in some parts of the country closed early on Wednesday as fears of bandit attacks spread across multiple states. The schools were hurriedly shut down following an attack by bandits on the UBE Secondary and Primary School in Iluke, Kogi State, alongside threats of possible invasions targeting learning centres in Edo and Niger states. This development comes a few weeks after school pupils were abducted in Oyo State, which has fueled widespread national and international condemnation of the worsening security situation in the country.
At least three persons lost their lives when suspected bandits attacked the UBE Secondary and Primary School in Iluke, located within the Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State. The deceased individuals were identified as Mr. Ganiyu Anifowose, the Vice Principal of the school, Mr. Sunday Alhassan, aged 70 years, and a six-year-old child named Sunday Ayele. The tragedy was officially confirmed in a statement released by the Kogi State Police Command spokesperson, Salihu Afusat. During an ensuing exchange of gunfire, the police disclosed that one of the attackers was neutralized, while a security operative attached to the joint response team sustained gunshot injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment.
In the official statement, the Kogi State Police Command detailed the timeline and nature of the operational response to the invasion. The statement read, “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.’’
The law enforcement agency further noted that its preliminary findings showed no conclusive evidence of a successful mass abduction of students or local residents during the raid, though investigations and ongoing assessments continue to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the incident. The police 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,”
In Edo State, three schools were shut down following a Department of State Services intelligence report highlighting a planned mass abduction of schoolchildren, particularly within the Edo North Senatorial District, by bandits. The secret police, in an official letter addressed to the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps dated June 5, 2026, called for heightened security around educational institutions in the area. The DSS noted that the intelligence was obtained from two suspected bandits who were intercepted while conducting surveillance on their targets. The suspects reportedly disclosed plans to kidnap schoolchildren in the district because previous attempts to target wealthy individuals had not yielded expected financial gains, concluding that abducting children would attract greater government attention and increase the likelihood of ransom payments. On June 4, 2026, an individual identified as Emmanuel Momidu, aged 25, was apprehended while allegedly conducting surveillance on Makeke Secondary School in the Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.
A top officer within the Edo State Police Command, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, noted that the command had already acted on the security briefs. The officer questioned how the confidential security report reached the public domain, stating, “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.”
In response to the active threat, the Edo State Government ordered the temporary closure of Ososo Grammar School, Ososo Comprehensive High School, and Makeke Secondary School, all located within the Akoko-Edo Local Government Area. The State Ministry of Education announced this decision in a circular dated June 9, 2026, which was addressed to the principals of the affected schools. The statement, signed by Enodolomwanyi Otamere on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, directed that academic and non-academic activities be suspended immediately, but exempted candidates currently participating in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination under strict safety provisions. The circular read in part, “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,”
In Minna, Niger State, widespread reports of an imminent attack caused panic, sending schoolchildren scurrying home on Wednesday. A parent, Chinenye Nwadike, described her anxiety upon hearing rumors of an alleged terrorist invasion in the state capital. Nwadike stated, “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,”
The principal of one of the Catholic schools in Minna, a Reverend sister who pleaded anonymity, explained that the pupils fled the premises hurriedly after hearing the speculations. She remarked, “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 in the state, Mr. Isah Usman, explained that he ran to fetch his son from school following the rumors of the bandit attack. Criticizing the handling of the security situation, Usman stated, “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.”
Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, released a statement dismissing the speculations of an attack in the state. Abiodun stated, “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.’’ The command added that the state Commissioner of Police, Adamu Elleman, had directed Divisional Police Officers to work closely with school administrators to maintain safety.
Global human rights organization Amnesty International condemned the deadly attack in the Iluke community, calling on relevant authorities to urgently bring those responsible to justice and strengthen protection for schools, students, and rural communities. In a public statement, the organization remarked, “No child should have to fear violence while pursuing education.’’
Similarly, the National Association of Okun Students described the Kogi incident as a disturbing reflection of the worsening security situation across Okun Land. In a statement signed by its National President, Olu Opeyemi, the student group expressed deep concern over the rising cases of kidnappings, killings, and community invasions across the region, calling for an urgent overhaul of the local security architecture. Opeyemi stated, “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,” He added, “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,”
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command has refuted rumors of terrorist movements into Ogbomoso, warning the public against spreading unverified information. The command’s Public Relations Officer, Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement reacting to a video and accompanying voice note circulating on social media platforms that alleged the infiltration of suspected Lukarawa terrorists into forests around Ogbomoso and the Old Oyo National Park. The statement read, “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.’’
Olayinka added that despite the falsity of the report, the Oyo State Police Command remains proactive and has strategically deployed intelligence and covert operatives to border communities and vulnerable locations within the affected axis to strengthen security. The command noted that these operatives are working in close synergy with existing local security structures, community-based networks, traditional institutions, hunters, and vigilante groups to ensure enhanced intelligence gathering and swift response to any emerging concerns. Law enforcement authorities urged members of the public to remain vigilant, warning that false reports are capable of creating unnecessary panic, generating fear, disrupting economic activities, and diverting valuable security resources away from genuine operational priorities.
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