operatives of the Nigerian Immigration Service have NIS have arrested over 100 foreign nationals in Osun State as part of a crackdown on suspected terrorism activities linked to the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The arrests follow the identification of individuals engaged in bomb-making training in Ilesa, Osun State, raising alarm about potential terrorist threats in the region. the foreigners apprehended had no valid travel documents and couldn’t provide sufficient information to justify stay in State.
According to report, a top security official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated, “I will not disclose the location of the arrests for security reasons and to avoid raising apprehension in the community. They were arrested, and the Osun State Government was informed.”
This incident has heightened fears of infiltration by terrorist groups in Nigeria, particularly from ISWAP, which has been known to carry out horrendous attacks in various parts of the country.
The Osun State commissioner for information, confirming the incident according to report in a national dailies said: “100 foreigners were arrested weeks ago before the arrest of suspected members ISWAP in Ilesa.
We are on top of security situation, our residents should not panic.” … the issue of security is not something that we can disclose fully. In Osun, we have always been proactive which led to the arrest of suspected terrorists in Ilesa.”
“The governor including our Service Chiefs they are on top of security situations in the state. We are equally rejigging the Amotekun Security outfit to be more effective.”
The commissioner disclosed that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde raised the alarm of bandits invasion of the South West which prompted the Osun State government to swiftly swing to action.
“Following the alarm, we are leaving no stone unturned on security matters. Osun State remain the safest state in Nigeria because of the efforts of Mr Governor.”
The presence of terrorist groups like ISWAP poses a persistent danger.
The foreign nationals’ lack of documentation raises questions about border security and the effectiveness of current immigration policies in preventing illegal entry.
Nigerian government must enhance intelligence operations and strengthen collaboration among security agencies.
The possibility of a coordinated terrorist attack cannot be dismissed, and proactive measures are essential to mitigate risks to public safety.