Ikeja Schools on Lockdown as Police Move In After WhatsApp Threats

The Lagos State Police Command has placed Grange School and Greensprings School (Anthony Campus), both in Ikeja, under permanent police protection following reported threats targeting schools in the area.

The directive was issued by the Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, after the managements of the two schools announced temporary closures earlier in the week. The decisions followed the receipt of threatening WhatsApp messages from unidentified sources.

Grange School was the first to shut its gates on Wednesday. In a notice sent to parents, the school’s head, Richard McMahon, explained that classes would not hold on Thursday due to security concerns.

In the letter dated January 21, 2026, McMahon stated that although no immediate danger had been detected, the school opted to take precautionary steps to ensure the safety of students and staff by responding decisively to the alert.

“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 of the school.

An official of the school confirmed that it was uncertain how long the closure of the campus 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 by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, the command said it had neutralised the threat to the schools within 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.

Police authorities disclosed that at about 4:00 pm on Tuesday, January 21, 2026, senior officials of Grange School and Greensprings School in Ikeja separately lodged reports at the Ikeja Divisional Headquarters after receiving threatening WhatsApp messages from the same unidentified number.

Following the reports, the Commissioner of Police ordered an immediate investigation to track down and arrest those behind the messages, with a directive that the perpetrators be prosecuted in line with the law.

As part of precautionary measures, the police said permanent security coverage has been put in place at the affected schools to guarantee continuous protection of students, staff and facilities. Tactical and specialist units, including the Explosive Ordnance Disposal–Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) unit, the Rapid Response Squad and other operatives, were also deployed to reinforce security.

The command explained that a thorough search of the school premises—covering classrooms, offices, halls, playgrounds and surrounding areas—was carried out to rule out the presence of explosives or other dangerous items. The sweep yielded no threats, and the schools were subsequently declared safe to resume academic and administrative activities.

Despite this assurance, the police advised Lagos residents to remain alert and promptly report any suspicious behaviour or security concerns.

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