MURIC cautions Muslims over planned terror attacks, as Group urges Mosque vigilance
By KEMI KASUMU
MURIC also advised mosque authorities to be wary of unfamiliar persons at gatherings and restrict the entry of people carrying bags, especially backpacks. It recommended prayer shifts, with at least five people keeping watch while others pray.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged Muslims across Nigeria to heighten vigilance following alerts by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Police over planned terrorist attacks on places of worship and other public spaces.
MURIC Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, in a statement issued on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, advised Muslims to exercise caution around mosques, markets and other crowded places, particularly before, during and after Friday Jumu’ah prayers and weekend asalatu gatherings.
The group urged mosque officials and Islamic organisations to engage the police and DSS, provide security agencies with information about planned programmes and strengthen security arrangements, including the use of private guards.
MURIC also advised mosque authorities to be wary of unfamiliar persons at gatherings and restrict the entry of people carrying bags, especially backpacks. It recommended prayer shifts, with at least five people keeping watch while others pray.
The organisation further advised worshippers to lie flat at the first sound of gunfire and crawl towards exits rather than rush out, to minimise the risk of stampede. It also cautioned against rushing towards the scene of a bomb explosion because of the possibility of a secondary explosion.
Akintola said Muslims should not adopt a fatalistic approach to security, stressing the need to take reasonable precautions while relying on Allah.
According to the statement, “The Department of State Services and the Nigerian Police have alerted the Nation to planned attacks on worship places by terrorists (https://leadership.ng/
2027-dss-uncovers-plot-to-attack-churches-mosques-markets-in-osun/; https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/909479-police-raise-alarm-over-planned-attacks-on-worship-centres-schools-nysc-camps.html).
“In view of this development, we call on Muslims throughout Nigeria to exercise caution in mosque environments, markets and other crowded places. Muslims are urged to be on red alert particularly before, during and after the Friday Jumu’ah prayer as well as weekend asalatu (group supplication).
”Apart from employing private security guards, mosque officials and Islamic organizations must engage both the police and the DSS in discussions. Information about coming programmes should be given to security agents. Guards should not join others in salat. They should organize separate prayer sessions at the end of the general prayers.
”Islamic organizations and individuals must be wary of strange faces at their gatherings. People carrying bags and baggages (especially back-packs) must not be allowed into mosque premises.
”In particular, prayer in shifts must be introduced to allow at least a small group (not less than five) to watch over those praying while the watching group takes the prayer floor after the first group has finished.
”In case of an attack, worshippers should lie flat on the ground at the first sound of gunfire. Crawling towards the exit is always better than rushing out in order to avoid stampede. In case of bomb explosion, do not rush to explosion sites to avoid falling victims of twin explosions.
”This is not the time for fatalistic ideology. We remind Muslims of an hadith of the Prophet (SAW) where he cautioned one of his followers to still tie his horse when the latter told him that he had left his horse in the care of Allah.
”The Glorious Qur’an issued a more direct and more pragmatic instruction. It commanded Muslims to be fully prepared for the enemy. It says, ‘And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy’ (Glorious Qur’an 8:60).
”Therefore, a lackadaisical approach stands in contradistinction from this verse. In line with this, we urge Nigerian Muslims to rise to the occasion by heeding the warning issued by the security agencies. We must not be caught napping.
”But above all Muslim leaders and their followers must sharpen their survival instincts. They must grow eyes at the back of their heads. Muslims must watch out for huge sums of money suddenly dropping in their bank accounts. They should report such to the police immediately before they are accused of financial terrorism.
”Mosques must up their vigilance. Entertain no unknown faces even if their turbans carry the stamps of Saudi Arabia and Iran altogether. No sleep-over should be allowed in the mosques. Most importantly, dispose of any bag or luggage found inside or around the mosque immediately. They must also report suspicious persons to the police even if such person or persons pray with them in the same mosque,” MURIC said.
