As worries about bandit assaults grew, schools in certain regions of the nation shuttered early on Wednesday. After bandits attacked the UBE Secondary/Primary School in Iluke, Kogi State, and threatened to invade educational facilities in Edo and Niger States, the schools were quickly closed.
This is taking place a few weeks after schoolchildren were kidnapped in Oyo, which has fueled international and national condemnation of the nation's deteriorating security situation. Suspected bandits stormed the UBE Secondary/Primary School, Iluke, in the Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing at least three people.
Sunday Ayele, age six, Sunday Alhassan, 70, and Mr. Ganiyu Anifowose, the vice principal of UBE Secondary/Primary School, are among the deceased. Salihu Afusat, a spokesperson for the Kogi State Police Command, confirmed the incident in a statement.
One of the attackers was neutralized during the gunfight, according to the police, while a security member of the joint team was shot and is still being treated.
"At around 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 kidnapping students and other residents of the community," the statement stated.
The Divisional Police Officer of Kabba 'A' Division promptly initiated a coordinated security response upon receiving the report by mobilizing Division officers in addition to members of the Command's Tactical Teams and the Police Mobile Force. Local vigilante groups and soldiers already stationed in the region were also informed and joined the operation.
According to the police's preliminary findings, there was no solid proof that students or other citizens had been successfully abducted in large numbers. To fully understand the facts underlying the tragedy, however, investigations and ongoing evaluations are still underway.
Unfortunately, three people were killed during the incident. Among them are Sunday Jacob Alhassan, 70, Sunday Ayele, 6, and Ganiyu Anifowose, the vice principal of UBE Secondary/Primary School, Iluke.
The police said, "The Command expresses sympathy to the families of the deceased and reassures them that every effort is being made to bring the perpetrators to justice."
A Department of State Security intelligence tip regarding a planned mass kidnapping of schoolchildren, especially in the Edo North Senatorial District, led to the closure of three schools in Edo State.
In a June 5, 2026, letter to the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the secret police demanded increased security surrounding the local schools. According to the DSS, the information came from two suspected bandits who were apprehended while monitoring their targets.
The two revealed their intentions to abduct schoolchildren in the Edo North Senatorial District during the meeting because their earlier attempts to abduct wealthy people had not produced the anticipated financial rewards.
In order to achieve this, they came to the conclusion that kidnapping schoolchildren would draw more attention from the government and possibly raise the possibility of large ransom payments and concessions.
"On June 4, 2026, a 25-year-old man named Emmanuel Momidu was arrested while allegedly surveilling Makeke Secondary School in Makeke Community, Akoko Edo LGA."
A senior Edo State Police Command officer, who wished to remain anonymous, pointed out that the command had previously responded to the reports and questioned how the security report was made public.
The officer mentioned that they receive multiple security reports, which often dictate the steps they take to address security concerns.
"The security reports have already been acted upon," the officer stated. In the regions mentioned in the letter, we have stepped up our surveillance. To increase security, we have also gone to schools close to the forest."We are proactive and have already taken steps to ensure this does not happen, but the leaked report and the media attention it receives will undoubtedly reach those planning these nefarious acts."
"It's unclear how such a document ended up in the public domain, and the person who leaked it violated the civil service rule." Ososo Grammar School, Ososo Comprehensive High School, and Makeke Secondary School in the Akoko-Edo LGA were temporarily closed by the Edo State Government in reaction to the threat.
This was revealed by the State Ministry of Education in a June 9, 2026, circular that was distributed to Benin City reporters.
According to the statement, the DSS's security alarm prompted the schools to close. The principals of the impacted schools received the statement, which was signed by Enodolomwanyi Otamere on behalf of the ministry's permanent secretary.
However, the ministry mandated that candidates who are presently taking the West African Senior School Certificate Examination be permitted to take the test under stringent security measures.
"All academic and extracurricular activities in the impacted schools are hereby suspended with immediate effect and will remain so until further notice from the Ministry."
The statement said, in part, "Candidates currently enrolled in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination shall be permitted access to sit for their examinations under strict security arrangements and supervision as may be provided by the relevant security agencies and community stakeholders."
On Wednesday, schoolchildren in Minna, Niger State, fled home due to concerns of an impending attack.
When she learned of the purported terrorist invasion, a parent named Chinenye Nwadike claimed she asked her husband if their three kids had stopped attending school.
"No one wants to put their life in danger. In Bosso, our three kids go to a Catholic elementary and secondary school. I called my husband as soon as I found out about the terrorists' planned assault on Minna to see if our kids had left school and were at the store.
"I discovered that Christian schools are the target of these attackers. I am aware that every youngster abducted from the Oyo school is a Christian. "Our innocent children must not suffer any harm," she declared.
The students quickly left the school after learning of the rumors, according to the principal of a Catholic school, a Reverend nun who requested anonymity.
"Parents of my students called me starting at 11.30 am to ask whether their kids were safe and if the school had been closed for the day after I learned that bandits had entered Minna and were targeting Christian schools.
"I just informed them that although I had heard the rumor, I had not seen any terrorists. Additionally, I spoke with the Niger State Police Command, and the PRO reassured me that there was nothing of the sort.
The way bandits are kidnapping schoolchildren and the federal and state governments seem powerless is a serious cause for concern, so I'm not sure what to believe once more.A parent, Mr Isah Usman, explained that he ran to fetch his son from school following the speculation of a bandit attack.
"This is really frightening. It is concerning how frequently these bandits break into classrooms and kidnap even young children. The government's inaction is the worst thing. They will advise against paying ransom to bandits, but they provide no choice except to allow the kidnapped infant to perish in the terrorists' lair. This is immorality.
Parents are still afraid, so I propose that the Niger State government make Thursday a public holiday. Additionally, Friday is Democracy Day, a public holiday.
Wasiu Abiodun, a spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, refuted the rumors in a statement.
"The Niger State Police Command would want to address the false and misleading report that has been making the rounds in the public domain, which claims that thugs attacked schools in the regions of Bosso, Kpakungu, Sabon-Wuse, and Lambata.
"The Command hereby declares unequivocally that no such attack took place within the State, having visited every school listed in these locations.
The Police Command advises the public to ignore this misleading information, which is thought to have come from mischievous people who want to spread fear and panic in public and educational settings.
"However, an intelligence investigation has begun to identify and apprehend the mischief makers, as well as to uncover the source of the false report."
It added that Divisional Police Officers had previously been instructed by Adamu Elleman, the state Commissioner of Police, to collaborate closely with school administration in order to guarantee the safety of children, staff, and the community.
Amnesty International denounced the horrific attack on the Iluke community and urged the appropriate authorities to swiftly prosecute the perpetrators and bolster security for rural communities, schools, and students.
The organization stated that "no child should have to fear violence while pursuing education."
In a similar vein, the episode has been characterized by the National Association of Okun Students as a troubling indication of the deteriorating security situation throughout Okun Land.
In order to confront the mounting threat posed by criminal elements, the organization called for an urgent revamp of the region's security architecture and urged traditional rulers, political office holders, security agencies, and community leaders to call an immediate security summit.
The group voiced alarm over the increasing number of kidnappings, killings, attacks on tourists, and invasions of villages around the region in a statement signed by its National President, Olu Opeyemi.
“The frequency of these attacks is becoming unbearable. There are stories of kidnappings, attacks on travelers, community invasions, and fatalities almost every week. Opeyemi stated, "Our people should be able to live in peace and go about their everyday lives without worrying about being attacked by criminal elements."
He claims that the most recent attack highlights the critical need for stakeholders to go beyond hyperbole and create a coordinated response to the region's security issues.
The NAOS president called on traditional rulers, elected officials, community leaders and security agencies to urgently convene a strategic security summit aimed at developing a comprehensive and sustainable framework to tackle insecurity in Okun communities.
"We must take immediate action. Delays put more innocent people in danger every day. In order to create workable solutions that will improve intelligence collection, community vigilance, quick response mechanisms, and cooperation with security personnel, our traditional rulers, political leaders, and security agencies must collaborate," he continued.
The Oyo State Police Command, meanwhile, has denied reports of terrorist activity in Ogbomoso and cautioned against disseminating unconfirmed information.
Ayanlade Olayinka, the Command's Public Relations Officer, revealed this in a statement on Wednesday in response to a video and voice message that were making the rounds on social media, claiming that suspected Lukarawa terrorists had moved and infiltrated forests near Ogbomoso and the Old Oyo National Park.
"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 statement said.
"The accusations made in the aforementioned video and voice letter are categorically rejected and dismissed by the Command as being untrue, deceptive, and completely devoid of factual support. The Command has access to thorough intelligence evaluations and security reports that neither confirm nor imply the presence of any such terrorist movement or infiltration within the specified locations.
"The Oyo State Police Command remains proactive and resolute in its commitment to the safety and security of all residents of the state, notwithstanding the falsity of the report," the statement continued. In order to reinforce the strong security architecture and early warning systems currently in place, intelligence and covert agents have been strategically stationed in border settlements and other susceptible areas inside the impacted axis.
In order to guarantee improved intelligence gathering, timely information sharing, and a prompt response to any emerging security concerns, the deployed operatives are collaborating closely with traditional institutions, hunters, vigilante groups, community-based intelligence networks, and other crucial stakeholders.
Additionally, the Command has greatly expanded intelligence-led stop-and-search operations, visibility policing, confidence-building patrols, and strategic deployments throughout Ogbomoso, the Old Oyo National Park axis, and neighboring border communities. These actions are intended to reassure locals, discourage criminal activity, and preserve the area's current state of calm and security.
As a result, the Command urged people to maintain their vigilance and security awareness, especially those who live in rural areas and border villages.