The Department of State Services has alerted Muslim and Christian leaders in Osun State to an alleged plot by terrorists to attack places of worship and other public gathering centres ahead of the 2027 general election.
The warning was issued during separate meetings between DSS officials and representatives of the Muslim community and the Christian Association of Nigeria in Osogbo on Wednesday.
President of the Osun State Muslim Community, Mustapha Olawuyi, confirmed the meeting on Friday, saying religious leaders were advised to take precautionary measures against possible attacks and infiltration.
He said the DSS also warned Muslim leaders about the possibility of suspicious individuals entering the state as part of an alleged attempt to establish terrorist networks.
“The meeting is true; it was held on Wednesday in Osogbo. We need to be careful and vigilant. These people (terrorists) have been trying to infiltrate Osun for quite some time,” the Punch quoted Olawuyi as saying.
Olawuyi recalled that some herders and other individuals had previously entered the state under suspicious circumstances, prompting authorities and community members to take action.
“We had, some time ago, sent back some herders, numbering about 200, who flooded Osun from the Ikirun axis. There were also some individuals who came into the state on motorcycles. They didn’t understand our language and we had to send them back. The DSS is doing a very good job in terms of intelligence and alerting the people.”
In an audio message circulated among imams in the state, Olawuyi said the DSS had informed Muslim leaders of an alleged plot involving politicians and terrorists to disrupt the 2027 elections.
“The DSS came from Abuja to Osun to warn us about a plot by some politicians and terrorists to frustrate the 2027 election, and for every one of us to be careful,” he said.
He added that religious centres were advised to strengthen their security arrangements, including ensuring that vehicles were not allowed to park close to worshippers during Jumat prayers and other gatherings.
Muslim leaders were also advised not to permit people to sleep inside mosques and were encouraged to provide security personnel to guard worship centres at night.
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The Osun State Chairman of CAN, John Adeleke, also confirmed that Christian leaders had met with DSS officials and received similar security warnings.
According to Adeleke, church leaders were urged to increase security at churches, schools and other locations where large numbers of people gather.
A report circulated among Christian groups stated that the DSS had intelligence suggesting that terrorists had mapped parts of Osun State and were planning attacks on public gathering centres, including churches, mosques, markets, schools, clubs and viewing centres.
The report further claimed that the suspected attackers planned to pass through Kaduna and Jos before making their way to Osun.
Adeleke said Christian leaders were advised to discourage night programmes and encourage members of their congregations to remain alert.
“For example, they told us we should not allow a strange vehicle to park near churches because there may be explosives inside the car. They also told our leaders throughout the state that they should be careful, and any visitor that comes around should be questioned before we allow him or her into the premises of the church,” he said.
“The message is that our people should be security-conscious. If they see anything, they should say it. They also told us to inform school owners to be security-conscious.”