Nigerian Police have issued a nationwide security alert after intelligence indicated an increased mobilisation of terrorist elements for possible coordinated attacks on places of worship, learning institutions, NYSC orientation camps and other vulnerable targets across the country.
Nigerian Police: Alert Details and Areas of Concern
The warning appears in a police wireless message dated September 13, 2026, with reference CB: 0900/FDPS/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL38/ 68, issued from the Nigeria Police Force Department of Operations (NIGPOL DOPS), Abuja. The message is marked “Security General” and tagged “Treat as Very Important.” It was circulated to Assistant Inspectors‑General of Police overseeing Zones 1–17, Mobile Police units, counter‑terrorism and other specialised formations, and to Commissioners of Police in all states. The directive was also copied to several departments and formations at Force Headquarters, including Intelligence, Finance and Administration, the Directorate of Training and Development, the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Research and Planning, ICT, and the Force Security Department.
According to the communication, available intelligence indicates an “increased mobilisation of terrorist elements for possible coordinated attacks” on places of worship, schools, NYSC orientation camps and other vulnerable locations. The alert identifies the North‑East, North‑West, North‑Central and parts of the South‑West as areas of particular concern. The police further disclose intelligence of armed elements moving from Katsina through Kaduna towards Plateau State, and say suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) operatives and local collaborators have been conducting surveillance and reconnaissance of potential targets.
The Force describes the threat to learning institutions as especially worrying, warning that attacks could coincide with the resumption of the 2026/2027 academic session and that terrorists could seek to exploit the concentration of students and staff to cause mass casualties. The message also raises concern that attacks could be timed ahead of the 2027 general elections, noting a possible intent by terrorist elements to destabilise communities and create fear before the polls. The Department of Operations assesses the intelligence as a possible progression from “intent to preparatory activity,” and stresses the development requires immediate and proactive security measures.
Directed Security Measures and Coordination
The Department of Operations has directed all affected formations and commands to heighten security around places of worship, schools, NYSC camps and other vulnerable locations. Commanders were ordered to intensify intelligence‑led surveillance, patrols, stop‑and‑search operations, access control and rapid‑response arrangements around identified vulnerable locations, and to tighten security at state borders, entry and exit routes and other critical approaches to prevent infiltration and movement of armed elements.
The Force instructed commanders to work closely with other security and intelligence agencies, school authorities, religious leaders and the management of the National Youth Service Corps to improve information sharing and establish effective early‑warning mechanisms, and to address any identified security gaps immediately. The message directs that “all personnel should maintain heightened vigilance and report suspicious persons, vehicles, movements or objects through established channels,” and states that any credible threat or incident should be reported immediately to the Inspector‑General of Police and the Department of Operations. Commands were ordered to ensure strict compliance with the directive and to provide feedback on security measures put in place.
