The Department of State Services (DSS) warned Wednesday that the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) was about to assault several towns in two states of the federation.
Vanguard reports that a secret memo dated October 20, 2025, was sent to the Brigade Commander of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery, Owena Cantonment, Akure. The memo warned that credible intelligence confirmed plans by the insurgents to launch coordinated attacks on several communities.
The document, which was signed by Hi Kana, Director of Security for the DSS Ondo State Command, named Eriti Akoko and Oyin Akoko in Akoko North-West Local Government Area and Owo town in Owo Local Government Area as possible targets.
The Secret Service said that the terrorists had already started watching soft targets in the affected areas and asked the military to step up security efforts to stop any attacks. Intelligence verified that members of ISWAP aim to target villages in Ondo and Kogi states at the same time very soon.
“Immediately raise the level of security alertness in the identified communities to stop people from dying and losing property.”
Remember that this security notice comes three years after the June 2022 massacre at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, where suspected ISWAP members slaughtered more than 40 worshipers after morning mass.
The CP of the Ondo Police holds a discussion about security.
It was learned that the state police commissioner, Adebowale Lawal, convened a security meeting yesterday with people from the two Police Area Commands in the Akoko region—Ikare and Iwaro-Oka—in response to the security alert.
Ayanlade Olayinka, a spokesperson for the Ondo Police Command, said that the meeting is “in a renewed effort to prevent the breakdown of law and order, and in line with the proactive policing strategies of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun.”
“Yesterday, CP Adebowale Lawal, the Commissioner of Police for the Ondo State Command, called a high-level security meeting and community engagement session with people from the two Police Area Commands in the Akoko region: Ikare and Iwaro-Oka.
The meeting, which took place in Ikare Akoko, was meant to strengthen existing security partnerships and encourage more cooperation between the police and the public.
Traditional leaders, high-ranking police officers, leaders of the Fulani and Igbo communities, members of the NURTW, Okada Riders Association, Farmers’ Association, Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), Vigilante and Hunters Associations, and the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) were all there. The State Chairman of the PCRC, Ambassador Gabriel Ariyo, led the group.
“The interactive session helped the police and the community trust each other and understand each other better.”
“Participants praised the Command’s work to protect the peace and promised to keep helping by providing actionable intelligence and working together to keep crime low across the State.
“Farmers’ representatives also promised the Command timely and accurate information to help it do its job. Traditional rulers stressed the importance of border towns next to Ekiti and Kogi States in stopping threats from crossing the border.
The leaders of the Hausa-Fulani and Igbo communities, as well as other social and economic groupings, praised the CP for his fair, open, and people-centered approach to police.
“They promised again to share information and keep an eye out for one other to keep people and property safe.
Police commissioner Adebowale Lawal thanked all the people who helped and praised the foot troops of the two Area Commands for their hard work and sacrifice in keeping the people safe.
“The CP showed that he was accessible and a leader by example by giving attendees his phone number and encouraging them to get in touch with him directly with reliable information to help the police do their jobs.”
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