Security agencies in Oyo State have intensified surveillance and protection around schools, places of worship, National Youth Service Corps facilities and other public locations following an alert over an alleged plan by the Islamic State West Africa Province to attack public institutions.
The Oyo State Police Command said it had increased intelligence-led surveillance, targeted visibility patrols and operational readiness around locations considered vulnerable.
Police Public Relations Officer Ayanlade Olayinka said the measures included stronger intelligence sharing with other security agencies.
He said the objective was to identify emerging threats early and respond before they developed into attacks.
The Police Command has also expanded engagement with school authorities, religious leaders, NYSC officials, traditional institutions, community leaders and private-security personnel.
Olayinka said the Command’s Safe School Initiative, being implemented with the Police Community Relations Committee, was intended to strengthen early-warning systems and community-based intelligence.
Residents were urged to report suspicious movements and activities promptly while avoiding the spread of unverified information capable of causing panic.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps also said it had stepped up preventive and intelligence-led measures across the state.
NSCDC spokesperson Samuel Opebiyi said Area Commanders and Divisional Officers had been directed to reinforce security around public places and other vulnerable locations.
The Corps said personnel continued to be deployed around mosques on Fridays and churches on Sundays.
The NSCDC Safe Schools Programme has also intensified engagement with the Oyo State Ministry of Education and public and private schools.
According to the Corps, officers have been visiting schools to promote security awareness, encourage early reporting of suspicious activity and strengthen preventive measures.
The NSCDC’s Agro Rangers have also been deployed in selected areas to support the protection of communities, agricultural assets and critical infrastructure.
The Corps said it was working closely with the state government and other security agencies and urged residents to remain vigilant without panicking.
The alleged ISWAP threat had not been independently established in the material supplied, and security agencies framed their actions as precautionary measures based on the alert.
Both the Police and NSCDC said coordination, intelligence sharing and public cooperation would remain central to the state’s security response.
