The Department of State Services (DSS) has issued an urgent alert about potential terrorist attacks by the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) targeting communities in Ondo and Kogi states. A confidential memo dated October 20, 2025, from DSS Ondo State Command Director Hi Kana to the Brigade Commander of the 32 Artillery Brigade in Akure revealed credible intelligence indicating that ISWAP is planning coordinated assaults. The memo specifically identified Eriti Akoko and Oyin Akoko in Akoko North-West LGA, and Owo town in Owo LGA, as likely targets, noting that insurgents have already begun surveillance on vulnerable sites.
The DSS urged the military to heighten security measures to prevent attacks and protect lives and property, recalling the June 2022 ISWAP attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, where over 40 worshippers were killed during a morning mass. In response, Ondo State Police Commissioner Adebowale Lawal convened a security meeting on Tuesday with stakeholders from the Ikare and Iwaro-Oka Police Area Commands in Akoko. The meeting, held in Ikare Akoko, included traditional rulers, senior police officers, leaders from Fulani and Igbo communities, NURTW, Okada Riders Association, Farmers’ Association, Nigeria Forest Security Service, Vigilante and Hunters Associations, and the Police Community Relations Committee, led by State Chairman Ambassador Gabriel Ariyo.
Police spokesperson Ayanlade Olayinka said the session aimed to strengthen community-police collaboration and maintain peace through proactive policing strategies aligned with Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun’s directives. Participants praised the police efforts and committed to providing actionable intelligence. Commissioner Lawal shared his contact details, encouraging direct reports of suspicious activities. The alert comes as terrorist groups, historically active in Nigeria’s North, increasingly target the South-West, including Kogi and Ondo, raising concerns about their expanding reach.
