Operatives storm Pan-Atlantic University after suspected Intruders trigger campus lockdown

Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), Lagos, on Tuesday night placed its students on immediate lockdown after suspected bandit-like individuals were reportedly sighted within the university premises, prompting a large-scale joint security operation involving multiple security agencies.

The incident led to an emergency advisory issued by the university’s Student Council, which directed all students to remain in their hostels while security operatives conducted a comprehensive sweep of the campus.

In the statement, the Student Council confirmed that the university administration had activated a coordinated security response to address concerns over the presence of “unauthorized individuals” within the school environment.

“We are aware of the circulating concerns regarding reports of unauthorized individuals within the school premises,” the council said.

According to the advisory, a multi-agency operation was immediately launched, involving personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, and the Nigerian Navy.

“Campus authorities have been briefed and are managing the situation effectively. A comprehensive security deployment is currently active across the campus, featuring coordinated support from the Nigerian Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, and the Nigerian Navy,” the statement added.

As a precautionary measure, students were instructed to remain indoors and avoid movement across the campus until an official clearance is issued by the institution.

“Please stay within your respective hostels and avoid moving around the campus until further notice. We will issue an official ‘all-clear’ notification once the area has been secured,” the advisory stated.

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The council further informed students that they might hear sounds resembling gunfire or controlled discharges during the ongoing security sweep, stressing that such sounds were part of operational procedures and not an attack on the campus.

“You may hear sounds of activity, including controlled discharges, as security forces conduct a thorough sweep of campus green areas. These actions are part of a coordinated security operation; please remain calm and do not be alarmed,” it said.

The university also reassured the campus community that heavily armed security personnel deployed across the premises were present strictly for protective purposes and to restore full safety.

“Please be aware that the armed personnel currently visible on campus are there strictly for your protection and to ensure the restoration of a secure environment,” the statement noted.

Students were also urged to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious movement or activity to the Campus Security Services department as the operation continues.

“Vigilance remains critical. If you observe any activity that appears unusual or suspicious, please report it immediately to the Campus Security Services department,” the council added.

The Student Council said university authorities were closely monitoring the situation in real time and promised continuous updates through official communication channels.

“The Student Council and the university administration are monitoring the situation in real time. We will provide updates through our official communication channels as new information becomes available,” it said.

While the exact circumstances surrounding the reported sighting of suspected bandit-like individuals remain unclear, the university has not confirmed whether any arrests were made or whether there were any injuries during the operation.

As of the time of filing this report, Pan-Atlantic University had yet to issue a separate official statement detailing the nature of the security threat or the outcome of the ongoing sweep.