By Ayorinde Oluokun
Tertiary institutions across Sokoto State have been put on high alert following a security alert of attack and abduction plot by terrorists by the Department of State Services, DSS.
The DSS, had in the security alert warned that terrorists are plotting abductions of students, lecturers, non-academic staff and their relatives across institutions in Sokoto State.
The alert titled “Planned Attack on Tertiary Institutions by Terrorist and Bandit Gangs,” dated July 18, 2026, was addressed to the Sokoto State Government by the DSS.
It was signed on behalf of the Sokoto State Director of DSS by B. Abdulaziz, according to PRNigeria.
In the alert titled, the DSS said intelligence at its disposal indicated a tactical shift by criminal groups from targeting primary and secondary schools to universities and other tertiary institutions.
DSSS said the shift poses a serious threat to the education sector, particularly because tertiary institutions accommodate large populations of students, academic and non-academic staff and their family members.
The secret police also warned that any successful attack could have consequences beyond the abduction of individuals, potentially disrupting academic activities, generating widespread fear and undermining public confidence in the government’s ability to secure educational institutions.
It further warned that an attack on tertiary institutions could damage Nigeria’s international image and exacerbate existing security challenges affecting education in parts of the country.
The Service therefore urged the Sokoto State Government and relevant security agencies to immediately strengthen the security architecture around tertiary institutions across the state.
It also stressed the need for proactive security measures, including enhanced surveillance, intelligence gathering and rapid response, rather than waiting for attacks to occur before taking action.
DSS said it has already alerted relevant security and emergency-response agencies to the emerging threat.
But it called for the deployment of appropriate countermeasures to prevent attacks and protect students, staff and critical educational infrastructure.
The Service also appealed to the Sokoto State Government to treat the warning with urgency and ensure a coordinated security response around universities and other tertiary institutions.
Recall that bandits and terrorists have continue to terrorise communities in Northern Nigeria with Sokoto State being one of the epicenters of such attacks. The bandits have also targeted schools to abduct pupils.
Recall that the bandits on March 9, 2024, abducted 17 Tsangaya students and a woman at the Gidan Bakuso area of Gada Local Government Area in Sokoto State.
The abductees were rescued by Nigerian army few days later.
