The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Olohundare Jimoh, has ordered the permanent deployment of police personnel to Grange School and Greensprings School (Anthony Campus) following threats of possible attacks by yet to be identified persons in Ikeja.
The management of the affected schools, located in Ikeja, had on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, ordered the temporary closure of the institutions after receiving security threats via WhatsApp messages from an unknown number.
Announcing the temporary closure, the Head of Grange School, Richard McMahon, in a letter addressed to parents on Wednesday, said the school would not open on Thursday due to a “security related concern.”
The letter, dated January 21, 2026, read, “Earlier this evening, the school received a security-related concern. While there is no immediate danger, we have chosen to act responsibly by taking the matter seriously and putting all necessary safety measures in place.
“The school will use tomorrow Thursday to follow up fully with the appropriate authorities and receive official guidance.
“The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families remain our highest priority, and this temporary closure allows us to ensure that all protocols are properly observed.”
The school management said it would monitor developments, in conjunction with security agencies, to determine the reopening date.
Authorities at the Anthony Campus of Greensprings School also asked students who turned up for school on Thursday to return home while the security situation was being assessed.
An official of the school confirmed that assessment examinations scheduled for Thursday afternoon were aborted due to the closure directive. The official added that it was uncertain how long the closure would last before normal academic activities resumed.
It was also gathered that a nearby school, Avi-Cenna International School, Ikeja, was considering a temporary closure.
However, in a statement on Thursday, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said the command had neutralised the threat to the schools in Ikeja.
The police declared the schools safe for continued academic and administrative activities after conducting a security sweep of the premises.
The statement read, “The Lagos State Police Command has once again demonstrated its commitment to the protection of lives and property following a swift, intelligence led response to a security threat directed at some prominent private schools in Ikeja.
“On Tuesday, January 21, 2026, at about 4:00 p.m. the Human Resources Manager and the Chief Security Officer of both schools, situated within Ikeja, independently reported at the Ikeja Divisional Headquarters that they received distress WhatsApp messages from the same unknown number.”
The statement also conveyed an order by the Commissioner of Police for investigations to “trace, identify, and apprehend the sender of the threat messages with a view to bringing them to justice in accordance with the law.”
It added that combined teams of police personnel had been permanently deployed to the affected schools to ensure round the clock safety of students, staff, and facilities.
The police detailed measures taken to address the threat, including the mobilisation of personnel such as experts from the command’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Unit, the Rapid Response Squad, and other tactical teams for on-the-spot assessment and security reinforcement.
“A painstaking and comprehensive sweep of the entire school environment, including classrooms, administrative offices, halls, playgrounds, and surrounding premises, was conducted by EOD-CBRN experts to rule out the presence of Improvised Explosive Devices or any other dangerous or suspicious materials.
“The operation yielded no explosive or hazardous devices, and the schools were consequently declared safe for continued academic and administrative activities,” the statement added.
The police, however, urged residents of Lagos State to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.
“The Lagos State Police Command assures parents, guardians, school authorities, and the general public that the command remains proactive, responsive, and fully committed to maintaining peace, safety, and public order across the state,”.
The Association of Private Educators in Nigeria (APEN) urged schools to heighten security protocols and remain vigilant. The association said it had received assurances from the state government regarding safety in schools.
“APEN has been in contact with Lagos State Government officials responsible for security regarding the safety of our schools. We have been assured that the situation surrounding the threat received by two schools is under control.
“Nevertheless, we recommend further strengthening and heightening security protocols across all our schools and remaining vigilant.
“We will continue to monitor developments and keep APEN schools up to date with any information.”
