The Department of State Services (DSS) has alerted the Sokoto State Government to intelligence indicating that armed groups are planning attacks on universities and other tertiary institutions across the state.
The warning was contained in a July 18 letter sent to the state government, which was made public on Thursday.
According to the DSS, criminal groups have shifted their focus from primary and secondary schools to higher institutions.
The agency warned that students, lecturers, non-academic staff and their families could be at risk of kidnapping and other attacks.
The DSS said the suspected change in tactics was aimed at disrupting education, weakening public confidence in the government’s security efforts and damaging Nigeria’s international reputation.
It urged the Sokoto State Government to immediately strengthen security around tertiary institutions and upgrade existing security measures.
The agency said relevant security and emergency response agencies had been informed and were preparing countermeasures.
The alert comes amid persistent insecurity in Nigeria’s North-West, where bandit groups have repeatedly attacked communities and educational institutions.
