DSS Warns of Planned School Kidnappings in Edo, Urges Heightened Security
The Department of State Services (DSS) has raised concerns over an alleged plot by suspected bandits to abduct schoolchildren in Edo State, prompting a security alert to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The warning was contained in a security advisory dated June 5, 2026, and addressed to the Edo State Command of the NSCDC. According to the document, intelligence reports indicate that criminal elements are planning to target schools, particularly within the Edo North Senatorial District.
A security source familiar with the development confirmed the authenticity of the advisory, describing it as a routine intelligence-sharing measure among security agencies.
The advisory, signed by B. Agada on behalf of the state director of the DSS, stated that the agency intercepted communications between two suspected bandits identified as Bawa and Nuhu. During the conversation, the suspects reportedly discussed plans to shift their focus from wealthy individuals to schoolchildren after previous kidnapping attempts failed to generate substantial financial returns.
According to the DSS, the suspects believed that abducting students would attract significant government attention and increase the chances of securing large ransom payments or other concessions.
The agency also disclosed that on June 4, 2026, security operatives arrested a suspect, Emmanuel Momidu, who was allegedly conducting surveillance around a secondary school in Akoko Edo Local Government Area.
In response to the threat, the DSS advised security agencies and relevant stakeholders to strengthen protective measures around schools and educational institutions across the state, with special attention to vulnerable communities in Edo North.
Recommended measures include deploying security personnel to at-risk schools, collaborating with local vigilante groups, hunters, and the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC), and intensifying patrols to improve surveillance and deter potential attacks.
The alert comes amid increasing concern over a resurgence of school-targeted abductions in Nigeria.
On May 15, armed kidnappers abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers from three schools in the Oriire area of Ogbomoso, Oyo State. During the attack, an assistant headmaster and a motorcyclist were killed. Days later, one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly murdered by his captors, sparking widespread condemnation.
In a separate incident on May 16, suspected Boko Haram insurgents abducted 42 pupils and students from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The latest intelligence warning has heightened concerns about the safety of schools, as security agencies continue efforts to prevent further attacks on educational institutions across the country.
