• ISWAP reportedly spies schools, churches, others
• Army expansion will strengthen response to security threats, says COAS
• Afenifere urges South-West govs to activate policies on security  

Just weeks after the release of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State,security operatives have warned that terrorists may be planning attacks on places of worship, schools, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camps and other vulnerable locations.

The warning revived concerns over whether the military, police and other security operatives can stop such attacks before they happen.
 
Expressing serious concern over the latest upsurge in banditry in the South-West, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, called on governors in the region to activate the various pronouncements they made on security.

The concern is heightened by the Army’s September 9 intelligence communication to the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, which warned of increasing mobilisation of resources and foot soldiers by terrorist groups for possible coordinated attacks.

The army document signed by A.M. Sodiq identified parts of the North-East, North-West, North-Central and South-West as areas of concern and specifically reported the movement of scores of armed fighters from Katsina through Kaduna towards Plateau State.

It warned that suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) operatives had commenced surveillance and reconnaissance of identified targets with the support of local collaborators.

The army said the targeting of educational institutions was of particular concern, with the anticipated attacks potentially coinciding with the resumption of the 2026/2027 academic session.
Among the identified targets, according to the message,are the Catholic and Protestant churches, as well as primary and secondary schools, among other vulnerable locations.

Also, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) alerted commands and formations across the country to intelligence indicating possible coordinated attacks by terrorist groups on places of worship, schools, NYSC camps and other locations. 

The alert was contained in a message dated September 13 and issued by the Force Department of Operations in Abuja.

The message, marked “Security General” and classified as “Treat as Very Important”, was circulated to police formations, including the Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) of police overseeing Zones 1 to 17 and police commissioners across states.

The police ordered intensified intelligence-led surveillance, patrols, stop-and-search operations, access control and rapid-response arrangements.

A Department of State Services (DSS)source told The Guardian that the public release of security alerts did not necessarily mean that security agencies were waiting for attacks to occur.

The source said such alerts could deliberately be made public to signal to terrorists that their plans had been detected, potentially forcing them to abandon or alter their operations.

Former DSS Director, Mike Ejiofor, told The Guardian that the release of such information indicated that security agencies had intelligence on a potential threat, but stressed that citizens should not leave the responsibility entirely to the government.

On his part, Retired Commissioner of Police (CP), Lawrence Alobi, urged security agencies to act proactively on the intelligence.

The security expert said agencies must build stronger security around schools and other identified targets while penetrating terrorist networks to obtain information about where and when attacks could occur.

Alobi also called for closer cooperation among security agencies and for schools to use technology to strengthen their security arrangements.

Former Nigerian Air Force (NAF) spokesperson, Grp Capt. Sadeeq Shehu (rtd), said vigilance remained crucial, but warned that civilian vigilantes lacked the firepower to confront terrorists.
He argued that what was required was not simply the creation of more military divisions, but adequate manpower and equipment for existing formations.

The fresh security concerns came as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen.Waidi Shaibu, said the ongoing expansion of the Nigerian Army was designed to broaden its operational reach and improve its capacity to respond to security threats.

Shaibu, who spoke yesterday at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State, said the establishment of additional formations and units would strengthen the Army’s presence in vulnerable areas and improve its responsiveness.

While delivering a lecture entitled ‘Safeguarding the Orange Economy and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development: The Role of the Nigerian Army’, he told participants of Senior Executive Course 48, 2026, that the expanded force structure would enhance the protection of communities, critical infrastructure and economic activities.

Meanwhile, in a press statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, the apex Yoruba organisation cited the latest bandit action on Igbeti-Igboho Road, kidnap incidents in Ondo, Kwara and Kogi states, as well as the reported threat by bandits to unleash terror on Osun State to distort the forthcoming general elections.

Bandits reportedly attacked the base of Operation Burst inside the Forest Reserve of Oyo National Park.

Operation Burst was established by former Governor Abiola Ajimobi to combat the then-festering criminal activities in the state. Subsequent administrations sustained the operation.
 
The squad is made up of personnel drawn from various official security agencies in the state, such as the army, police and Amotekun.

Reports have it that the bandits set fire to the base and the operational vehicle of the security agency, although no lives were lost.

The Afenifere spokesman said: “Condemnable as the destruction was, Afenifere is particularly worried about this, in view of what preceded the kidnapping in OriireLocal Council of the state last May.

“We, in Afenifere, are seriously concerned and hope that this would not be a precursor of a dastardly incident to come. In many communities where fatal attacks and/or kidnapping incidents have occurred, ‘aroko’, that is indicators, were always given as a prior notice, or minor terror acts meant to serve as a warning”

Afenifere particularly challenged security agencies, politicians, religious and community leaders to come out boldly not only to condemn the dastardly acts but to work seriously at ending it forthwith.

The organisation observed that terrorists who carry out attacks always move on motorcycles.
 
It added: “For this reason, it is important to briskly interrogate and seriously challenge two or more armed people moving as a convoy. As a corollary to this, we commend the Oyo government for purchasing two surveillance aircraft. We appeal to it to urgently deploy the aircraft, so that they can begin immediate operation.”