The Department of State Services (DSS), Sokoto State Command, has warned of plans by terrorists and bandit groups to attack tertiary institutions across the state, raising fears of possible abductions of students, lecturers, staff and their family members.
The warning was contained in a security alert dated July 18, 2026, addressed to the Sokoto State Government and signed on behalf of the State Director of Security, B. Abdulaziz.
In the alert titled, “Planned Attack on Tertiary Institutions by Terrorist and Bandit Gangs,” the DSS said intelligence available to it indicated that criminal groups were shifting their focus from primary and secondary schools to universities and other tertiary institutions.
The Service warned that the development could have serious consequences for the education sector if urgent measures were not taken to prevent the planned attacks.
According to the DSS, tertiary institutions may have become targets because of the large concentration of students, academic and non-academic staff and their relatives, making them attractive to criminal elements.
The agency further warned that any successful attack could disrupt academic activities, create widespread fear and weaken public confidence in the government’s ability to protect citizens and public institutions.
It also noted that an attack on tertiary institutions could damage Nigeria’s image internationally while worsening the insecurity already affecting educational activities in parts of the country.
The DSS urged the Sokoto State Government to immediately strengthen the security architecture around tertiary institutions across the state and adopt proactive measures to prevent the attacks.
The Command said it had also alerted relevant security and response agencies to the threat and called for the deployment of appropriate countermeasures to safeguard students, staff and critical educational infrastructure.
The agency urged the state government and other stakeholders to treat the alert seriously and coordinate efforts to strengthen surveillance, access control, intelligence gathering and rapid-response capabilities around tertiary institutions.
The warning comes amid persistent security challenges across parts of northern Nigeria, where terrorists and bandit groups have continued to target vulnerable communities and institutions.
With the latest alert, tertiary institutions in Sokoto State are expected to heighten security measures to prevent them from becoming the next targets of terrorist and bandit operations.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
What do you think about this?
Drop your opinion in the comment section.
FOLLOW US & Share this with someone who needs to see this.
