DSS Raises Alarm over Imminent ISWAP Attacks in Ondo, Kogi States
The Department of State Services (DSS) has raised an alarm over an imminent terrorist attack by the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) on several communities in Ondo and Kogi States. According to a confidential memo dated October 20, 2025, and addressed to the Brigade Commander of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery, Owena Cantonment, Akure, the DSS disclosed that credible intelligence confirmed plans by the insurgents to launch coordinated assaults on targeted areas within the two states.
The memo, signed by Hi Kana, Director of Security, DSS Ondo State Command, identified Eriti Akoko and Oyin Akoko in Akoko North-West Local Government Area, as well as Owo town in Owo Local Government Area, as potential targets. The secret service revealed that the terrorists had already begun surveillance of soft targets within the identified communities. It therefore urged the military and other security agencies to heighten alertness and increase their presence in the affected areas to forestall any attack and protect residents from harm.
“Intelligence confirmed plans by members of ISWAP to carry out coordinated attacks on communities in Ondo and Kogi States anytime soon. The level of security alertness across the identified communities should be immediately scaled up to prevent loss of lives and property,” the memo stated. The latest security warning comes three years after the June 2022 massacre at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, where over 40 worshippers were killed by suspected ISWAP members during Sunday mass. The memory of that tragic incident still lingers among residents, heightening fears of a possible recurrence.
In response to the DSS alert, the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, convened a high-level security meeting on Tuesday with stakeholders from the two Police Area Commands in the Akoko region — Ikare and Iwaro-Oka. The meeting, according to a statement issued by the state police spokesperson, SP Ayanlade Olayinka, was part of a renewed effort to reinforce proactive policing and strengthen collaboration between security agencies and local communities. The engagement, held in Ikare Akoko, sought to consolidate existing partnerships and develop new strategies to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
Those in attendance included traditional rulers, senior police officers, leaders of the Fulani and Igbo communities, representatives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Okada Riders Association, Farmers’ Association, Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), Vigilante and Hunters Associations, and the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) led by its State Chairman, Ambassador Gabriel Ariyo. The interactive session provided an avenue for community leaders to express their concerns and pledge support for security operations across the state.
Participants at the meeting commended the police for their proactive response to the DSS alert and for maintaining a visible presence across vulnerable communities. Representatives of farmers assured the police of timely and accurate intelligence that could aid operations in remote areas, while traditional rulers emphasized the need to secure border communities adjoining Ekiti and Kogi States to prevent infiltration by criminal elements. Leaders of the Hausa-Fulani and Igbo communities, alongside other socio-economic groups, also praised the Commissioner of Police for his fairness, inclusivity, and people-centered approach to policing. They reaffirmed their commitment to sharing actionable intelligence and strengthening joint vigilance to safeguard lives and property.
In his remarks, CP Adebowale Lawal expressed gratitude to the stakeholders for their cooperation and commended officers in the two Area Commands for their dedication to duty. He reiterated the Command’s determination to sustain proactive engagement with communities and deepen intelligence-driven policing in line with the vision of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun. Lawal also shared his personal contact information with attendees, urging them to reach out directly with credible information to support ongoing security efforts. He assured residents that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, would continue to work tirelessly to ensure lasting peace and safety across Ondo State.