CSP Gerald Udechukwu, a senior police officer and counter-terrorism expert, has warned that Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) no longer resemble the obvious threats people expect, posing an increased danger to places of worship across Imo State.

Delivering the keynote address at a one-day Interfaith Security Summit in Owerri on Tuesday, Udechukwu, the Commanding Officer of the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) in Imo, urged religious leaders and congregants to adopt heightened vigilance.

The summit, themed “How to Identify, Manage, and Report Cases of Improvised Explosive Devices to Safeguard Worship Centres,” was convened by the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, and brought together top clerics from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Muslim communities to develop strategies for protecting worshippers.

“The greatest weapon of an IED is normality,” Udechukwu told the gathering. “Gone are the days when explosives were easily identifiable by wires or disturbed soil. Modern IEDs can be hidden in everyday objects. Our focus must shift from spotting suspicious items to detecting unusual behaviour.”

Drawing on his extensive experience, including service in Operation Hadin Kai, the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Mali, and specialized counter-terrorism training, he emphasized that awareness and situational alertness are more effective than technology in preventing attacks.

“The most dangerous IEDs are the ones that appear harmless,” he said. “Curiosity can be fatal. Distance is your first protection. Terrorism often begins quietly, when vigilance fails, not with an explosion.”

Udechukwu urged worshippers to respect safety protocols, maintain situational awareness, and report anomalies immediately without attempting to intervene. “Do not try to be a hero. Keep a safe distance and alert the EOD unit or nearest police station. Recognizing a threat is often the first step to preventing an attack,” he said.

The summit highlights the Nigeria Police Force’s intensified effort, under the direction of the Inspector-General of Police, to collaborate with religious institutions and secure places of worship from emerging threats.