Ondo gov urges calm amid ISWAP threat alert, assures heightened security measures

Ondo gov urges calm amid ISWAP threat alert, assures heightened security measures

Ondo State Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has called on residents to remain calm and vigilant following reports of a possible terrorist threat in parts of the state. The governor assured the public that his administration is working closely with national security agencies to safeguard lives and property.

The appeal comes in response to a leaked memo from the Department of State Services (DSS), which warned of a potential coordinated attack by suspected members of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) targeting communities in Ondo and neighbouring Kogi State.

The confidential document, dated October 20, 2025, and addressed to the Brigade Commander of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Owena Cantonment, Akure, identified Eriti Akoko and Oyin Akoko in Akoko North West Local Government Area, as well as Owo town in Owo LGA, as potential targets. The memo stated that ISWAP operatives had begun surveillance on soft targets in the affected areas and urged heightened military vigilance.

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In a statement issued Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, Governor Aiyedatiwa confirmed that the state government was already aware of the intelligence and had taken proactive steps to prevent any security breach.

“The Ondo State Government is in constant contact with the DSS, Nigerian Police Force, and Nigerian Army to ensure that the state remains one of the safest in the country,” the statement read. It added that security had been reinforced in identified flashpoints, with intensified surveillance and intelligence gathering underway.

Governor Aiyedatiwa urged residents to go about their daily activities without fear, avoid panic, and report any suspicious movements to the nearest security formation. “We appeal to residents to remain calm, refrain from taking laws into their hands, and provide any information that may help prevent threats,” the statement said.

The government clarified that the leaked memo was part of routine intelligence-sharing among security agencies and should not be a cause for alarm. “These reports are standard practice in joint operations and are used to enhance vigilance and take proactive measures,” it noted.

The alert comes three years after a deadly attack by suspected ISWAP militants on a Catholic church in Owo, which claimed over 40 lives. Security analysts have recently raised concerns about the spread of terrorist activities into southern Nigeria, following years of insurgency concentrated in the Northeast.

Governor Aiyedatiwa reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to maintaining peace and security across Ondo State, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between government and security agencies in preventing and responding to potential threats.

Ondo gov urges calm amid ISWAP threat alert, assures heightened security measures