The Department of State Services (DSS) has alerted religious leaders in Osun State over an alleged plot by terrorists to attack worship centres, markets and other public gathering places in the state.
According to a report by THE Punch, the DSS held separate meetings with leaders of the Muslim community and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Osogbo on Wednesday.
During the meetings, the religious leaders were advised to remain vigilant and adopt preventive measures against possible attacks.
The development followed intelligence indicating that terrorists are allegedly planning to spread insecurity to the southern part of the country, particularly the South-West, and create tension ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Confirming the meeting, the President of the Osun State Muslim Community, Alhaji Mustapha Olawuyi, said the security alert was genuine.
The DSS had outlined several proactive measures to help prevent possible attacks.
“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,” he said.
He further claimed that the Muslim community had previously sent back about 200 herders who entered Osun through the Ikirun axis.
According to him, some other individuals who arrived in the state on motorcycles were also asked to leave after they were found not to understand the local language.
Olawuyi commended the DSS for its intelligence-gathering efforts and for alerting residents to potential security threats.
“The DSS is doing a very good job in terms of intelligence and alerting the people,” he said.