Nigeria’s commercial capital under watch as insecurity creeps closer

Security experts have urged the government to strengthen surveillance, intelligence gathering and public communication in Lagos amid growing concerns over insecurity, warning that the country’s commercial capital cannot afford any security breach.

The call comes days after a bomb scare in the Mushin area of Lagos, which was later debunked by the police, and the interception of 47 sacks of military camouflage uniforms and 80 cartons of suspected illicit substances by the Lagos State Police Command in Surulere.

The incidents have heightened public anxiety at a time when insecurity continues to spread across parts of the country and neighbouring South-West states, fueling fears, rumours and increased suspicion among residents.

“The government must demonstrate its capacity to safeguard lives and property at this critical time,” said a security expert who spoke anonymously. “Lagos is Nigeria’s economic nerve centre, and any successful attack on the city would have far-reaching social, economic and security consequences. Security agencies must therefore remain proactive in preventing potential threats.”

The latest security concerns were amplified on Tuesday when Fatai Tijani, the Lagos State commissioner of Police, announced the recovery of the military uniforms and suspected illicit substances during an intelligence-led operation.

Addressing journalists at the command headquarters in Ikeja, Tijani disclosed that three suspects, Chinedu David, 29; Ezeagwu Chukwuma, 38; and Ifeanyi Ogbeanyi, 45, were arrested by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit on Saturday night.

According to him, investigations are ongoing to determine the origin and intended destination of the recovered items.

“Investigation is ongoing to determine the source, ownership, and intended recipients of the recovered items, as well as establish the extent of the suspects’ involvement and identify other persons connected with the criminal act,” the commissioner said.

While assuring residents that there was no immediate threat to Lagos, Tijani noted that authorities could not ignore the potential security implications of the seizure, particularly given the increasing use of military uniforms by criminal groups across the country.

“It does not pose any form of threat to Lagos State. They were moving out of the state, but you know, with the trend of events in the country where we have seen bandits wear military uniforms, who knows what they want to do with this? Nobody could tell,” he said.

The announcement came barely 24 hours after panic spread across Mushin following rumours of a bomb threat, forcing the police to issue a public clarification that no explosive device had been found.

The developments are unfolding against the backdrop of worsening insecurity nationwide. Recent reports of the abduction of nearly 40 schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have further heightened concerns about the spread of criminal activities into the South-West.

Data from SBM Intelligence paints an even grimmer picture. The security research organisation recorded 4,326 insecurity-related incidents in the first quarter of 2026 alone, highlighting the persistence of threats posed by terrorists, kidnappers, bandits and other armed groups operating across multiple regions.

For Bamidele Olajide, a senior lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Lagos, the recent incidents serve as a reminder that Lagos is not insulated from the broader security crisis confronting the nation.

“Like other places in Nigeria, Lagos is not immune to the security threats and crises that we are facing,” he said. “Lagos, being the most populated state and one that welcomes people from all walks of life, is apparently under a security threat, except we want to deny reality.”

According to Olajide, widespread insecurity often creates an environment in which rumours, misinformation and fear-mongering flourish, particularly on social media platforms where information spreads rapidly.

“When there is a spirit of insecurity, issues like rumours, fear-mongering and all of these things will always be there,” he said.

He argued that beyond combating physical security threats, the government must also tackle the growing challenge of misinformation, which can trigger panic and undermine public confidence.

“People need that assurance that they are secure for such things as rumours to reduce,” he said.

“The government needs to ensure that fake news, rumours and disinformation are punished when they come up because there is a need for deterrence,” he said. “The bulk still falls on the table of government,” he said.

As authorities continue investigations into the intercepted military uniforms and suspected illicit substances, analysts say the incidents underscore the importance of proactive state policing, effective intelligence gathering and timely public communication in safeguarding Lagos, a city widely regarded as Nigeria’s economic nerve centre.