DSS Osun: Terror Plot Alert for Worship Centers, 2027 Election Security

• The Department of State Services (DSS) has issued an alert to religious leaders in Osun State regarding an alleged terror plot.
• The plot targets worship centers and other public gathering places, intending to disrupt the 2027 general elections.
• Separate meetings were held with Muslim and Christian leaders in Osogbo, where preventive security measures were advised.
• Intelligence suggests terrorists plan to extend insecurity to southern Nigeria, specifically the South-West, to generate pre-election tension.
• Community leaders confirmed the alert, with specific advice including increased vigilance, restricted parking, and night guards at religious sites.

The intelligence indicates a strategic effort by terrorists to spread instability into the southern parts of the country, particularly the South-West, with the explicit aim of creating widespread tension ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has recently notified religious leaders across Osun State about an alleged terror plot targeting various public gathering points, including worship centers. This alert is part of a broader intelligence assessment indicating efforts to destabilize the region and potentially undermine the 2027 general elections.

In response to this intelligence, the Department of State Services Osun command convened separate meetings with key representatives from both the Muslim community and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Osogbo. These discussions, held on a Wednesday, focused on advising religious leaders to implement proactive security measures to guard against potential attacks.

The DSS communication highlighted an intelligence report suggesting that terrorist groups are planning to extend their activities to the southern parts of Nigeria, with a particular focus on the South-West. The primary objective of these planned incursions is to generate significant tension and insecurity in the period leading up to the presidential election.

The intelligence indicates a strategic effort by terrorists to spread instability into the southern parts of the country, particularly the South-West, with the explicit aim of creating widespread tension ahead of the upcoming presidential election. According to information shared with Christian leaders, the attackers have reportedly mapped out Osun State as a target, with plans to move through Kaduna and Jos before reaching the state.

The identified targets for these potential Osun worship centres terror plot attacks are diverse, encompassing various public spaces where people congregate. These include churches, mosques, markets, schools, clubs, and viewing centers. The timeframe for these planned disruptions is specified as the period between now and the presidential election, underscoring the political motivation behind the security threat.

Alhaji Mustapha Olawuyi, President of the Osun State Muslim Community (OSMC), confirmed the veracity of the security report and the meeting with the DSS. He affirmed that religious bodies had received advice on preventive measures and that the DSS had outlined various proactive steps for their consideration. Olawuyi further elaborated on the DSS briefing in an audio message disseminated to imams throughout the state, noting that DSS officials from Abuja had traveled to Osun to deliver the warning about a plot by certain politicians and terrorists to disrupt the 2027 election.

The audio message from the OSMC president urged all religious centers to maintain heightened vigilance. Specific recommendations included prohibiting vehicles from parking close to congregations during Jumat prayers or other gatherings, disallowing individuals from sleeping within mosques, and exercising caution regarding potentially compromised commercial motorcycles and herders. Additionally, the DSS advised the implementation of night guards at every mosque.

Similarly, Pastor John Adeleke, Chairman of the Osun CAN, corroborated the meeting with the Department of State Services Osun command. He stated that the DSS instructed CAN to inform both churches and school owners to enhance their security awareness. An extract from a meeting report, circulated among Christian WhatsApp groups and signed by Ajayi J.K., the State Assistant Secretary of Osun CAN, dated Wednesday, September 9, 2026, reiterated the DSS alert and the advice for churches to implement tight security measures.

The current DSS Osun terror plot alert is not an isolated incident, according to community leaders. Alhaji Mustapha Olawuyi noted that there have been ongoing attempts by individuals identified as terrorists to infiltrate Osun State for some time. He cited previous instances where approximately 200 herders, who had entered Osun from the Ikirun axis, were sent back.

Furthermore, Olawuyi mentioned other individuals who arrived in the state on motorcycles but were unable to communicate in the local language, necessitating their return. These past occurrences underscore a persistent security concern in the region, which the Department of State Services Osun is actively monitoring through its intelligence operations and public alerts.

Lawyers advising clients with operations in Osun State, particularly those managing public gathering spaces like markets, schools, or religious institutions, should review and update security protocols and emergency response plans in light of the DSS terror alert. Compliance officers need to assess heightened security risks and potential liabilities related to public safety and business continuity.

Source: Original reporting via Sunday PUNCH