“A Threat to 2027”: DSS Warns Osun Religious Leaders of Looming Attacks

OSOGBO, Osun State — The Department of State Services has issued a stark warning to Muslim and Christian leaders in Osun State: terrorists are allegedly plotting to attack places of worship, markets, and other public gathering centres as part of a broader effort to create fear and disrupt preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The alert, disclosed on Sunday, September 13, 2026, represents one of the most specific security warnings issued ahead of the 2027 polls.

It names worship centres and markets, soft targets where large crowds gather with minimal security, as potential attack sites.

The Warning

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According to the DSS alert, the planned attacks are designed to create fear and disrupt preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The warning was sent directly to Muslim and Christian leaders in Osun State, urging them to take precautionary measures.

The choice of targets is significant. Churches and mosques are among the most vulnerable spaces in Nigeria, open to the public, difficult to secure, and capable of producing mass casualties.

Markets are similarly exposed, with thousands of Nigerians passing through them daily.

A Pattern of Political Violence

The DSS alert comes amid a broader pattern of security concerns ahead of the 2027 elections.

Earlier this month, the convoy of NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi was blocked by suspected thugs in Benue State, an incident that the Benue State chapter of the APC condemned and that the police have since arrested suspects over.

In July 2026, the Department of State Services confirmed that a coup plot had been uncovered, with suspects charged to court.

The Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), said the plotters were driven by financial gain rather than ideology.

Now, the DSS says terrorists are targeting houses of worship.

The Osun Context

Osun State has been on edge since the August 15 governorship election, in which Governor Ademola Adeleke was re-elected.

The election was largely peaceful, but the post-election period has been marked by legal challenges and political tension.

The DSS alert adds a new dimension to the security landscape.

Places of worship in Osun, from the ancient churches of Ile-Ife to the mosques of Iwo and Ede, are central to community life.

An attack on any of them would be devastating, not just in human terms, but in its capacity to inflame religious tensions.

What Happens Next

The DSS has urged religious leaders to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.

But the alert raises a fundamental question: what is the government doing to prevent the attack, rather than simply warning about it?

For Nigerians preparing for the 2027 elections, the warning is a reminder that the road to the polls may be paved with blood.