DSS Warns of Planned Mass Kidnap of Schoolchildren in Edo

Security fears have gripped Edo State after the Department of State Services uncovered an alleged plot by suspected bandits to carry out mass abductions of schoolchildren.

Intelligence reports have singled out Edo North Senatorial District as the primary target, triggering calls for tighter security around schools.

The DSS has not released details of the alleged plot, but sources say the warning was issued to state authorities following intelligence gathering in border communities.

The Edo State Government and security agencies are now reviewing safety protocols for schools in the affected district, with parents groups also calling for increased patrols and surveillance around campuses.

According to a confidential security memo issued by the Edo State Command of the DSS, the planned attacks were uncovered through intercepted communications involving two suspected bandits believed to be coordinating kidnapping operations in the region.

The document, dated June 5, 2026, and addressed to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), revealed that the suspects allegedly discussed plans to abandon the kidnapping of wealthy individuals in favour of targeting schoolchildren.

Security officials said the suspects concluded that abductions involving students would likely attract greater government attention and potentially result in larger ransom payments.

The intelligence report identified the suspects as individuals known simply as Bawa and Nuhu, with one reportedly believed to be of Fulani extraction from Zamfara State.

According to the DSS, conversations between the suspects suggested a deliberate strategy to exploit vulnerabilities within schools and communities across Edo North.

“During the conversation, the duo disclosed plans to kidnap schoolchildren because previous attempts to target wealthy individuals had not yielded the expected financial gains,” the report stated.

The security alert comes against the backdrop of persistent concerns about school kidnappings in parts of Nigeria, where criminal groups have increasingly targeted educational institutions for ransom.

Over the past several years, hundreds of students have been abducted in attacks across states including Kaduna, Niger, Katsina and Zamfara, prompting national outrage and renewed calls for stronger protection of schools.

Adding urgency to the latest warning, the DSS disclosed that a 25-year-old suspect identified as Emmanuel Momidu was arrested on June 4 while allegedly conducting surveillance around Makeke Secondary School in Akoko Edo Local Government Area.

Although authorities have yet to establish a direct link between the suspect and the broader kidnapping plot, security agencies are treating the incident as a potentially significant development.

In response to the intelligence, the DSS has advised security agencies to immediately strengthen protective measures around schools and vulnerable communities.

Recommended actions include increased deployment of security personnel, intensified patrols, collaboration with local vigilante groups and hunters, and enhanced intelligence gathering across high-risk locations.

Security experts say the warning highlights the evolving tactics of criminal groups, many of whom continue to seek new methods of generating revenue through kidnappings despite intensified military and police operations.

Parents and community leaders have also been urged to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements around schools and residential areas.

The latest alert is likely to heighten anxiety among residents, especially in rural communities where security infrastructure remains limited.

For Edo authorities, the challenge now is ensuring that preventive measures are implemented swiftly enough to neutralise any threat before it materialises.

With memories of previous school abductions still fresh across the country, stakeholders insist that proactive action will be critical in preventing another major security crisis involving students.