The DSS has warned of a planned shift by terrorists and bandits toward attacking tertiary institutions in Sokoto State, raising fears of mass abductions.

The Department of State Services (DSS), Sokoto State Command, has warned of plans by terrorist and bandit groups to attack tertiary institutions across the state, raising fears of possible abductions of students, lecturers, other staff and their family members.

The warning is contained in a security alert titled “Planned Attack on Tertiary Institutions by Terrorist and Bandit Gangs,” addressed to the Sokoto State Government and signed on behalf of the State Director of Security, B. Abdulaziz.

The alert was dated August 18; however, other reports of the same document have cited a date of July 18, 2026 a discrepancy that was not resolved in available reporting.

A Tactical Shift

In the alert, the DSS said intelligence available to the service indicated a shift by criminal groups from targeting primary and secondary schools to universities and other tertiary institutions. The service described the development as a serious threat to the education sector, noting that tertiary institutions accommodate large populations of students, academic and non-academic staff, as well as their family members, making them attractive targets.

According to the DSS, the alleged plot was not merely aimed at kidnapping individuals but could form part of a broader strategy to cripple educational activities, create widespread fear and undermine public confidence in the government’s ability to protect citizens and public institutions. The service warned that any successful attack on tertiary institutions could inflict serious damage on Nigeria’s image before the international community, while deepening the climate of insecurity already affecting educational activities in parts of the country.

Response Measures Urged

The DSS called for an immediate upgrade of the security architecture around tertiary institutions in Sokoto State, stressing the need for proactive measures rather than waiting for criminal elements to strike before responding. The Command disclosed it had already alerted relevant security and response agencies to the threat, urging them to deploy countermeasures capable of preventing the planned attacks and protecting students, staff and educational infrastructure.

The agency urged the state government and other stakeholders to treat the alert seriously and coordinate efforts to strengthen surveillance, access control, intelligence gathering and rapid-response capabilities around tertiary institutions.

Background

The warning comes amid persistent security challenges in parts of northern Nigeria, where terrorist and bandit groups have continued to exploit vulnerable communities and institutions in areas with inadequate security coverage. It follows recent reports highlighting the changing nature of militant activity in the region, including the presence and expansion of groups such as Lakurawa in parts of Sokoto and neighbouring states.

Sokoto’s tertiary institutions have not been insulated from the state’s wider security crisis. Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, has previously been affected by banditry-linked violence beyond its campus, including the killing of the university’s then deputy vice-chancellor for research, innovation and development, who was shot while travelling from Sokoto to Kaduna.