FG Unveils New Measures to Tackle School Abductions as Lagos Boosts School Security

The Federal Government has introduced new measures aimed at addressing school abductions, insecurity and other emerging threats affecting basic education across Nigeria, as authorities move to strengthen protection for pupils and school infrastructure nationwide.

The government said key issues such as school safety, education in emergencies, climate change, and gender-based violence have now been integrated into revised operational guidelines for School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs). The updated framework is designed to improve community participation in safeguarding schools and ensuring uninterrupted learning.

The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, disclosed this during a three-day training programme in Kano for stakeholders from the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Garba, who was represented by the Head of Community Engagement and Social Mobilisation at UBEC, Patricia Uche, said the review was prompted by rising cases of banditry, kidnapping and attacks on schools across the country.

She explained that one of the key updates in the revised guidelines is the introduction of stronger provisions on education in crisis situations, aimed at improving preparedness and response to security emergencies affecting schools and surrounding communities.

According to her, the new framework places greater responsibility on local communities to support school authorities in identifying security threats and implementing preventive measures.

“One of the major updates is education in crisis. We are talking about recent cases of banditry, kidnapping and other security challenges affecting schools and communities,” she said.

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Uche added that the revised Safe School Initiative is a major component of the new policy, noting that many public primary schools remain vulnerable due to lack of fencing and limited security infrastructure.

She said communities are now expected to play a more active role in monitoring schools and advocating safety improvements to protect both learners and teachers.

“We have also introduced safe school initiatives because many public primary schools are not fenced and remain vulnerable. We want communities to become more involved in identifying risks and advocating measures that will make schools safer,” she added.

The move comes amid renewed national concern over repeated school kidnapping incidents, which have raised fears among parents and education stakeholders in several states.

In a related development, the Lagos State Police Command has stepped up security across the state following the circulation of a threatening notice alleging a planned attack and abduction of schoolchildren by suspected bandits.

The notice, reportedly found within a school environment, triggered anxiety among residents and parents. However, police authorities have reassured the public that there is currently no verified intelligence indicating an imminent attack in Lagos State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said Commissioner of Police Tijani Fatai ordered an immediate security review and directed the deployment of additional officers to schools, strategic locations and vulnerable communities as a precautionary measure.

“The Command wishes to reassure parents, guardians, school authorities and residents that there is currently no verified intelligence indicating any imminent threat of such an attack within Lagos State,” she said.

She added that security personnel, in collaboration with other agencies, have been deployed across key locations to prevent any attempt by criminal elements to disrupt public safety or target educational institutions.

The police warned that criminal groups, including kidnappers and bandits, would not be allowed to operate in Lagos, stressing that anyone attempting to cause panic or insecurity would face the full weight of the law.

The development reflects ongoing nationwide efforts to strengthen school security, as authorities intensify both preventive and response measures to protect educational institutions from attacks.

FG Unveils New Measures to Tackle School Abductions as Lagos Boosts School Security

NRC counters Transport ministry on Warri-Itakpe train crash passenger list, casualties

Conflicting accounts have emerged over the passenger manifest of the Warri–Itakpe train that derailed near Agbor, Delta State, as the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) contradicted the Federal Ministry of Transportation’s claim that Senator Ede Dafinone and former Delta State Secretary to the State Government, Patrick Ukah, were among those on board.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Funsho Adebiyi, identified Dafinone, who represents Delta Central Senatorial District, and Ukah as notable passengers on the train when the accident occurred on Monday.

But the NRC swiftly refuted the claim, insisting that neither Dafinone nor Ukah travelled on the ill-fated train. According to the corporation, both men arrived after the incident and played key roles in coordinating emergency response and rescue efforts.

“The Nigerian Railway Corporation wishes to clarify that contrary to an earlier statement, Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, and former Secretary to the Delta State Government, Hon. Patrick Ukah, were not passengers on board the Warri–Itakpe Train Service involved in the accident near Agbor,” the NRC said in a statement signed by its Managing Director  Dr. Kayode Opeifa.

“Both distinguished individuals rather greatly assisted in the mobilisation of first responders and other emergency personnel who participated in the rescue operations following the incident,” the statement added.

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The corporation expressed regret over the error and apologised for any embarrassment caused to the two prominent Delta figures, while commending their swift intervention during the rescue operation.

Beyond the disagreement over the passenger list, there were also discrepancies in casualty figures. While the Ministry of Transportation reported that four people — two adult women, one adult man and an infant — lost their lives in the accident, the NRC had earlier announced that three passengers died in the derailment.

According to the ministry, the train carried a total of 482 persons, comprising 442 ticketed passengers and 40 crew members, security personnel and third-party service providers. It added that 24 passengers sustained serious injuries, while several others suffered varying degrees of injuries and are receiving treatment in medical facilities around Agbor.

Adebiyi said emergency rescue operations involving the Delta State Government, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other responders were immediately activated and concluded by about 6:30 p.m. on Monday.

The ministry and the NRC said investigations have commenced to determine the cause of the derailment, one of the most serious accidents recorded on the strategic rail corridor in recent years.

The incident comes barely weeks after the NRC suspended operations on the Warri–Itakpe route for 72 hours following a major technical disruption that stranded passengers for several hours, raising concerns about safety, maintenance standards and emergency response preparedness on the line.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the accident and is seeking compensation for affected passengers.

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, who described the Warri–Itakpe corridor as a critical transportation link connecting Delta, Edo and Kogi states.

NRC counters Transport ministry on Warri-Itakpe train crash passenger list, casualties

Nigeria-US Joint Strikes Eliminate 21 ISWAP Fighters in Borno – Presidency

The Presidency has described the security partnership between Nigeria and the United States as a crucial step towards ending terrorism, banditry and other security threats across the country. The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, stated this on Tuesday during an X Space discussion. According to Dare, intelligence sharing, security cooperation and joint counter-terrorism efforts between Nigeria and the United States are essential in dismantling insurgent groups and criminal networks operating within the region. He said the Tinubu administration remains committed to restoring peace nationwide, protecting lives and property, and defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity against both internal and external threats. Dare noted that the expanding collaboration between the two countries demonstrates a shared commitment to addressing security challenges through coordinated operations, intelligence-led strategies and capacity-building initiatives. The growing security partnership has already yielded significant operational results. According to the Defence Headquarters, the collaboration with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has led to intelligence sharing, joint operations and capacity building aimed at defeating terrorism in the country. The Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, disclosed during the same X Space discussion that the partnership has significantly enhanced intelligence sharing, capacity building, training, strategic communication, logistics support and operational effectiveness in the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign.

Recent collaborative efforts have contributed to improved intelligence-driven operations leading to the disruption of terrorist networks. The Defence Headquarters reported “the neutralization of several high-value terrorist commanders and about 200 fighters, the destruction of terrorist enclaves and logistics infrastructure, as well as enhanced surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.” The partnership has also strengthened the operational readiness of Nigerian troops through specialized training programmes, intelligence fusion initiatives, joint planning engagements and professional military education. In a significant development, the strategic partnership has led to the elimination of a senior global ISIS leader operating from within Nigeria. AFRICOM’s Director of Public Affairs, Colonel Rebecca Heyse, disclosed that operations conducted jointly by Nigerian and US forces led to the elimination of ISIS global second-in-command, Abu Bilal al-Minuki, alongside several key operational and media leaders. She confirmed that more than 200 ISIS fighters were eliminated during these operations, while terrorist checkpoints, weapons caches, logistics hubs and training sites were destroyed.

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The nature of the security cooperation has evolved significantly. For years, US-Nigeria security cooperation focused primarily on capacity building, including training Nigerian troops, donating equipment, and sharing general intelligence. Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office, that partnership has entered a more operational phase, with emphasis shifting to real-time intelligence fusion, precision strikes, and the targeting of high-value terrorist commanders. This shift was dramatically demonstrated in late May 2026 when a joint precision operation in Arege, Borno State, eliminated 21 ISWAP fighters in a strike coordinated by the Nigerian Air Force and US Africa Command. Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets had observed terrorists assembling in Arege for possible attacks, leading to an operation where data was fused with US AFRICOM satellite imagery and signals intelligence. All 21 targets were neutralised with no civilian casualties reported, demonstrating improved targeting, better coordination, and reduced collateral damage.

The strengthened security cooperation is underpinned by sustained high-level diplomatic engagements. In January 2026, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, hosted a high-level US delegation led by Allison Hooker for a strategic security parley. The meeting, attended by Nigeria’s Ambassador to the US, Service Chiefs and Heads of the Intelligence Community, focused on enhancing the fight against insurgency, strengthening community protection mechanisms and consolidating intelligence cooperation between both nations. Both delegations agreed on the importance of sustaining and deepening bilateral ties, particularly through leveraging US support in key areas such as defence articles, capacity building and training, intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism financing measures, and mutual legal assistance. The US-Nigeria Joint Working Group framework, established following the partnership’s intensification, now serves as the primary mechanism for coordinating joint counter-terrorism operations.

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The United States has demonstrated its commitment through substantial logistical and material support. AFRICOM has announced the delivery of military supplies to Nigerian partners in Abuja, with the command stating that “this delivery supports Nigeria’s ongoing operations and emphasises our shared security partnership.” While specific details of the equipment transferred were not disclosed, the delivery comes against the backdrop of intensified Nigerian military operations targeting terrorist networks across multiple regions. Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar has clarified the nature of the joint operations, stating that “it’s Nigeria that provided the intelligence” for recent strikes and confirming that President Tinubu “gave the go-ahead” for the operations. Tuggar emphasized that these are joint operations and “not targeting any religion nor simply in the name of one religion or the other.” He indicated that further strikes are expected, describing the cooperation as “an on-going thing.”

Responding to questions about the partnership’s impact on national sovereignty, AFRICOM’s Director of Public Affairs, Colonel Rebecca Heyse, stated that US cooperation with Nigeria is based on mutual interests and respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty. “Our operations and cooperation with Nigeria are rooted in fundamental respect for Nigerian sovereignty,” she said. “We operate strictly by invitation and under the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group framework.” According to her, the United States will continue to support Nigeria as long as both countries consider the partnership beneficial in addressing shared security threats. “As long as there are shared security threats and the framework continues to be of value to both countries, the United States remains committed to the partnership,” she added.

Major General Uba emphasized that Nigeria is pursuing a whole-of-society approach involving religious leaders, traditional institutions, civil society groups, government agencies and economic empowerment programmes to address the root causes of radicalisation. “Terrorism cannot be defeated by kinetic (military offensives) means alone,” he stated. “Non-kinetic measures such as community engagement, economic empowerment, strategic communication and the involvement of religious and traditional leaders are equally important.” This comprehensive strategy has yielded measurable results. Since 2023, over 104,000 former Boko Haram terrorists and dependents have surrendered under Operation Safe Corridor, with many citing sustained pressure and loss of commanders as reasons for laying down arms. Civilian deaths from insurgency in the Lake Chad region have fallen from 1,842 in 2022 to 623 in 2024, representing a 66 per cent drop.

The presidential aide also expressed concern over the growing spread of misinformation and fake news on digital platforms, warning that such content could weaken national security and erode public trust. He cautioned that the circulation of unverified information could heighten social tensions, trigger unrest and create unnecessary panic among citizens. “The deliberate spread of false information can create unnecessary panic, provoke disorder and threaten national cohesion. Nigerians must remain vigilant and avoid becoming tools in the dissemination of content capable of destabilising the country,” he said. He urged citizens, media organisations and social media users to verify information before sharing it, stressing that responsible communication is essential for maintaining peace, unity and confidence in democratic institutions. Dare further emphasized that national security should not be viewed as the sole responsibility of government agencies, adding that the media, civil society groups and citizens all have critical roles to play in protecting the country.

The Nigeria-US security partnership has evolved from a training-focused relationship to a robust operational alliance delivering tangible results against terrorist networks. With high-level diplomatic backing, substantial US logistical support, and respect for Nigerian sovereignty maintained through the Joint Working Group framework, both nations appear committed to deepening cooperation as they confront evolving security challenges in West Africa and the wider Sahel region. The evidence is clear: intelligence sharing, joint operations and real-time coordination are saving lives and degrading terrorist capabilities. As the partnership continues to mature, security analysts remain optimistic about the prospects for restoring peace and stability across Nigeria.

Nigeria-US Joint Strikes Eliminate 21 ISWAP Fighters in Borno – Presidency