Over 2,400 students abducted since 2014 as DSS and security agencies issue new alerts across multiple states

State governments in Edo, Niger, Kogi and Oyo have ordered the closure of several schools following intelligence on imminent bandit attacks and growing fears of mass abductions. The latest wave of shutdowns was implemented between June 4 and June 10, with parents in affected areas rushing to withdraw their children from classrooms after security advisories were issued.

In Edo State, three schools in the Edo North Senatorial District were closed on June 9 after the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested two suspected bandits accused of plotting to kidnap pupils. One suspect was reportedly caught conducting surveillance at Makeke Secondary School in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area. According to DSS reports, the suspects shifted focus to schoolchildren after previous ransom attempts targeting wealthy individuals yielded lower returns.

In Niger State, widespread panic gripped Minna on Wednesday following rumours that armed bandits on motorcycles were approaching the state capital. Parents abandoned workplaces to collect their children from school as early as 9 am, leading to empty classrooms across the city. A Catholic school principal confirmed that pupils fled at the first sign of trouble, reflecting heightened anxiety even when no actual attack occurred.

Similar scenes played out in Lokoja, Kogi State’s capital, where several schools dismissed students early on June 10 over fears of possible terrorist activity. In Oyo State, ongoing teacher strikes over insecurity have kept public primary and secondary schools shut for weeks—except for students sitting WAEC exams—further disrupting learning for thousands of pupils.

This trend is not new: data from the International Centre for Investigative Reporting indicates that at least 2,416 students have been abducted in 26 major school attacks nationwide since April 2014. Previous incidents have seen Jigawa and Kwara states order mass closures after intelligence flagged increased attack risks or when bandits began demanding ransoms up to ₦100 million per victim. Security experts warn that repeated school shutdowns may encourage criminal groups by demonstrating that threats alone can halt education across entire regions.

While governments maintain closures are a necessary precaution pending improved security patrols and intelligence sharing, some education stakeholders fear these measures undermine confidence in public schooling. Calls for long-term solutions—including better perimeter fencing, community policing, and rapid response teams—have grown louder as abductions creep southwards beyond traditional hotspots in the North-East.

The Ministry of Education in each affected state has advised parents to remain vigilant while efforts continue to strengthen campus security. As at press time, no major opposition party had issued a formal statement regarding the closures.

Source: https://www.pulse.ng/story/states-shutting-schools-kidnapping-threats-nigeria-2026061114130678326