The Department of State Services (DSS) has launched intensified surveillance and counter-terrorism initiatives to thwart emerging threats from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), reportedly active in the border regions linking Kogi and Ondo states.
This heightened security response follows a recent warning from ISWAP, issued on Tuesday, threatening attacks on these states amid ongoing military campaigns targeting insurgents masquerading as bandits in the area.
Insider security sources have confirmed the existence of ISWAP sleeper cells within Okene, located in Kogi State, part of Nigeria’s North-Central region.
Kogi State shares its borders with ten neighboring states: Benue to the east, Anambra to the south, Enugu to the southeast, Edo to the southwest, Ondo, Ekiti, and Kwara to the west, Niger to the north, Nasarawa to the northeast, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
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In response to ISWAP’s threat, the governors of Kogi and Ondo have urged residents in border communities to stay calm yet remain alert, assuring that security measures have been reinforced to prevent any hostile incursions.
This reassurance followed a strategic security meeting convened in Lokoja, involving DSS officials and Nigerian Army commanders from both states, to address the emerging threat.
A confidential memo from the DSS, addressed to the Commander of the 32 Artillery Brigade in Akure, warned of “imminent attacks” by ISWAP militants and called for increased vigilance and deployment of security personnel in vulnerable locations.
Signed by H. I. Kana on behalf of the State Director of Security, the letter was titled, ‘Imminent Attacks in Ondo State by Members of ISWAP.’
The document identified specific target areas in Ondo State, including Eriti-Akoko and Oyin-Akoko in the Akoko North-West Local Government Area, as well as Owo town, the administrative center of Owo Local Government Area.
“Intelligence reports have confirmed that ISWAP operatives are planning coordinated assaults on communities within Ondo and Kogi States in the near future,” the letter stated.
“Surveillance activities on potential soft targets in these locations have already commenced. Therefore, it is critical to elevate security readiness across these communities to prevent any untoward incidents,” it added.
The DSS urged immediate collaboration with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to preempt these attacks, emphasizing the crucial role of community awareness and cooperation.
Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, acknowledged the intelligence and confirmed that law enforcement agencies are actively responding to the threat.
“Our recent presence in Akoko on Sunday was part of proactive measures to ensure preparedness. All stakeholders are committed to preventing any surprises,” Ayanlade stated.
This alert arrives over three years after a deadly ISWAP-linked attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo on June 5, 2022, which claimed 41 lives and injured many others.
The suspects apprehended by the DSS are currently undergoing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Addressing the terror threat on Wednesday, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa called on citizens to remain vigilant and report any unusual activities or unfamiliar individuals to security agencies promptly.
In an official statement released by Idowu Ajanaku, the State Commissioner for Information, the government acknowledged the security alert and affirmed ongoing preventive measures.
The statement read, “The Ondo State Government is aware of the recent intelligence memo from the State Security Services addressed to the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Akure concerning a potential terrorist threat in parts of the state, which was inadvertently leaked to the media.
“Such intelligence communications are standard practice, routinely exchanged among security agencies and government bodies to identify and mitigate possible risks.
“These reports vary in threat levels and are integral to coordinated security operations aimed at enhancing vigilance and enabling preemptive actions.
“The public should be reassured that these intelligence inputs are being acted upon by the government and security forces, with all necessary precautions in place to safeguard lives and property. The focus remains on fostering cooperation between the community and security agencies to effectively counter any threats.”
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“We urge all residents to stay calm, remain watchful, and report any suspicious behavior to the nearest security office. The government is committed to preventing any attacks within Ondo State,” the statement concluded.
The government emphasized its ongoing collaboration with security agencies and the implementation of multiple protective strategies, particularly for border communities, to maintain Ondo’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s safest states.
“We once again appeal to residents to continue their daily routines peacefully, avoid vigilantism, cooperate fully with security personnel, and provide any information that could help avert threats anywhere in the state,” the statement added.
Despite these official reassurances, residents in the at-risk communities have expressed concern and urged the government and security agencies to treat the threat with utmost seriousness.