The Department of State Services has warned Christian and Muslim leaders in Osun State of an alleged conspiracy by terrorists to assault houses of worship and other public gathering centers as part of efforts to delay the 2027 general elections.
It was learnt that the DSS separately met with the Muslim community and the Christian Association of Nigeria in Osogbo on Wednesday, where the religious leaders were instructed to take preventative steps against probable assaults.
This development came on the heels of an intelligence assessment that terrorists were planning to transfer unrest to the southern half of the country, notably the Southwest, and generate tension in the build-up to the presidential election.
Alhaji Mustapha Olawuyi, the President of the Osun State Muslim Community, confirmed the meeting with the DSS. He claimed the security report was real and religious bodies had been briefed on steps to take to prevent it.
Our correspondent had on Friday spoken with Olawuyi who said the DSS has listed a number of proactive initiatives.
He said: “The meeting is true, it was held in Osogbo on Wednesday. “We have to be careful and watchful.” These folks (terrorists) have been trying to penetrate Osun for quite some time now.
Some time ago, we sent back roughly 200 herdsmen who flooded Osun from the Ikirun axis. There were several people that came in on motorcycles as well. They didn’t grasp our language, and we had to send them back. “The DSS is doing well in the area of intelligence, alerting the people.
Our correspondent got an audio message from Olawuyi to all imams in the state, where the details of the DSS meeting with the Muslim leaders were also conveyed.
In the audio message, the OSMC president added, “The DSS came from Abuja to Osun to tell us that some politicians and terrorists are plotting to frustrate the 2027 election, and for each and everyone of us to be careful.
“The officers told us they had intelligence that the terrorists were going to mobilise to the southern part of the country and the Southwest in particular to cause mayhem so that the election does not hold or cause apathy.
“They advised all religious centers to be vigilant. “We were ordered not to let anybody with a car park near the people or congregation during Jumat prayer or gathering. “Don’t let anyone sleep in the mosque,” they told him. They also warned us to be aware of compromised commercial motorcycles and herders. We were advised to have nite guards in every mosque.”
The Osun CAN Chairman, Pastor John Adeleke, who also confirmed the meeting, said the DSS asked them to tell churches and school owners to be security alert.
The report of the meeting, which was read and shared on certain Christian WhatsApp groups in the state, reads in part, “The DSS Osun State Command invited the OSCAN Chairman, Rev. Dr John Adeleke, to a meeting on security alert in Osun State.
“They said their intelligence and security expertise had shown that Osun State had been marked out by the attackers or the terrorists, and that some states would be attacked between now and the time of the coming presidential election. They intended to pass through Kaduna, Jos and come down to Osun State.
“They target places of gathering like churches, mosques, markets, schools, clubs or viewing centers, and we have been asked to put tight security in our churches,” he said.
It was signed by the State Assistant Secretary, Osun CAN, Ajayi J.K. and headlined, ‘The Report of the Meeting Held with the Department of State Security Osun State Command Today, Wednesday, 9th September, 2026’.
The chairman of the Osun CAN, while speaking with our correspondent, said the DSS warned the Christian leaders not to let unknown people to park vehicles outside church premises and cautioned against nite programs.
“We were told to sensitise members of CAN on the need for them to be vigilant.
Similarly, the CAN chairman said the church leaders were warned to ask appropriate questions before permitting a visitor to their premises, adding that the DSS also ordered them to tell school owners and other institutions that have huge meetings to be security alert.
“We told them that the churches will have to be careful and that we should encourage our churches also to be on alert. “We conveyed the message to all our blocs and different platforms, where our people may be informed.
“Like they told us not to let a strange vehicle park near churches because there could be explosives in the car. They also instructed our leaders all throughout the state that they should be watchful and any guest that comes around should be questioned before we allow him or her into the premises of the church.
“They also advised us to be careful of nite programs, so that the people will not take advantage of the darkness to perpetrate their evil plans. The message is that our people should be security aware. If they notice anything, they will report it. They also advised us to tell school proprietors to be security-conscious. The government knows as well. “We want to be careful, in areas where we need to be careful, God is our divine protector,” Adeleke said.
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