The Department of State Services has alerted religious leaders in Osun State to an alleged plan by terrorists to attack places of worship, markets, schools and other public gathering centres ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The warning was reportedly issued during separate meetings between the DSS and leaders of the Muslim community and the Christian Association of Nigeria in Osogbo on Wednesday.
The security agency was said to have informed the religious leaders that intelligence indicated plans by terrorists to infiltrate the South-West and create insecurity in the region ahead of the presidential election.
The alleged plot, according to the security alert, is aimed at creating fear and discouraging voters from participating in the 2027 elections.
Confirming the meeting, the President of the Osun State Muslim Community, Alhaji Mustapha Olawuyi, said the DSS had advised religious leaders to take proactive security measures.
Olawuyi, who spoke with Sunday PUNCH on Friday, said the security agency had been monitoring attempts by suspected infiltrators to enter the state, urging residents to remain vigilant.
He said, “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.
“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 warned that terrorists could target the South-West to cause violence and disrupt or discourage participation in the 2027 elections.
He said religious centres had been advised not to allow vehicles to park close to congregations, while unknown persons should not be permitted to sleep inside mosques.
The DSS also reportedly advised mosque authorities to employ night guards and exercise caution around unfamiliar commercial motorcyclists and herders.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Osun State chapter of CAN, Pastor John Adeleke, confirmed that Christian leaders were briefed by the DSS and urged churches and school owners to strengthen their security measures.
A report circulated among Christian groups in the state stated that the DSS had warned that terrorists had allegedly mapped out Osun State and could target places where large numbers of people gather, including churches, mosques, markets, schools, clubs and viewing centres.
Adeleke said the Christian leaders were advised against allowing unfamiliar vehicles to park close to church premises because of the possibility that explosives could be concealed inside them.
He added that church leaders were instructed to question unfamiliar visitors before granting them access to their premises and to educate members on the importance of reporting suspicious activities.
The CAN chairman also said the DSS advised churches to exercise caution over night programmes, noting that criminals could exploit darkness to carry out attacks.
Adeleke said the security warning had been shared with CAN blocs and other church platforms across the state, adding that school owners and operators of other facilities hosting large gatherings had also been urged to remain security-conscious.
He said, “After sharing with us that the churches will need to be careful and that we should encourage our churches also to be on alert, we sent the message to all our blocs and different platforms, where our people may be informed.”
He added, “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.
The government is aware too. God is our divine protector, but in areas where we need to be careful, we want to be.”