* Parents keep children away from schools in Suleja
* FCT school owners turn to vigilantes
By Teddy Nwanunobi and Charles Olewezi
The nightmare for Nigerian parents, guardians and school administrators is gradually on the increase, as what seems to be the new target of kidnappers in the country is becoming clearer by the day.
On Wednesday, the Edo State Government ordered the immediate closure of three secondary schools in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, following a leaked Department of State Services (DSS) intelligence report that warned of a planned mass abduction of schoolchildren in parts of the state, raising fresh concerns about security in a state already grappling with a wave of kidnappings.
Also on Wednesday, operatives of the DSS and troops of the Nigerian Army thwarted a major attempt by members of the outlawed Eastern Security Network (ESN) to kidnap scores of students writing the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC) in some South East states.
Daily NewsCraft investigations have revealed that the ugly trend has forced many parents in Suleja, Niger State to keep their children away from schools, as most parents have decided to keep their wards at home due to the rumoured bandit attacks on schools in Bosso, Kpakungu and Sabon-Wuse communities on Wednesday.
The situation is not different in Abuja where some parents and guardians are contemplating withdrawing their children and wards from their respective schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Many parents in Niger State had rushed to their children’s schools on Wednesday to pick them when news broke that bandits were attacking schools and abducting children.
Some of the schools decided to close early on Thursday, citing the usual Democracy Day public holiday on Friday as reason for such a decision.
A school proprietor said, “You know tomorrow is Democracy Day which is a public holiday. So, we are closing early today, Thursday, like we normally do on Fridays.”
However, investigation revealed that many of the schools may have taken the decision to close early because parents had already informed the schools that their children would not be going to school on Thursday and Friday.
A mother, who was seen taking her three children home, said she could not afford to lose them to bandits.
“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,” she said disappointedly.
The Niger State Police Command, however, debunked the rumoured bandit attacks, and advised the residents of the state to go about their normal daily activities.
The Command, in a press statement on Wednesday, signed by the State Police PRO, SP Wasiu Abiodun, noted that, “having visited all the schools mentioned in these areas, no such attack occurred in any school 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, intelligence investigation has commenced to unravel the source of the false report, identify and arrest the mischief makers. The Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, mnips had earlier directed DPOs to work closely with school administrators in line with school protection initiatives and police visibility patrols are ensured around the schools for safety of students, staff and the community.”
Also, on Wednesday, the Youth Wing of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Niger State, had warned those spreading false and misleading information to desist from such acts.
In a statement signed by the Coordinator, Comrade Abdullahi Muhammad Ishaq, the PCRC declared, “A strong warning is hereby issued to all individuals, groups or platforms involved in originating, sharing, promoting, or amplifying unfounded security rumours. Any person found culpable of causing public disorder will be considered an agent of chaos and may be subjected to investigation and prosecution in accordance with relevant laws by the appropriate authorities.”
Worried by the insecurity situation in the country, some school owners in the FCT have begun to make frantic efforts to safeguard their business by employing the services of vigilantes.
Daily NewsCraft learnt that the engagement of the vigilantes is to assist the schools see off the remainder of the current term.
According to the Principal of a school who spoke under anonymity, “It’s a good development because it’ll give us the confidence to do our job, and also reassure our parents and guardians of the safety of their children and wards for the remaining part of this term.”
It would be recalled that on May 15, 2026, armed men attacked three schools in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State and abducted 39 students, including toddlers as young as two years old, along with seven teachers. One teacher, Michael Ooko was killed during the initial raid, and another teacher was reportedly killed by the abductors while in captivity.
Similarly, suspected Boko Haram terrorists abducted over 40 schoolchildren and teachers from the Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. The armed attackers stormed the community on motorcycles and have held the victims in nearby forested terrain ever since.