SECURITY operatives working on the trail of extremist elements and insurgents have foiled a plot by terrorists of Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) to establish a strategic base in Oyo State for the coordination of their activities in Oyo, Osun, and Kwara States.
Independent sources spoken to by the Nigerian Tribune confirmed that ISWAP members fleeing Maiduguri, Borno State had linked up with one of their members who operates around the Oke-Ogun axis in the Northern parts of Oyo State, to comb strategic locations where a coordinating base that would be responsible for operations in Oyo, Kwara, and Osun States could be set up.
It was learned that the said loyalist of ISWAP had been linked with kidnapping and other criminal activities around Oke-Ogun and had started making preparations for the establishment of a base in the Afijio local government area of Oyo State.
It was gathered that security agents got wind of his plan after he held a meeting with some members somewhere in Osun State, after which a number of the gang members were arrested.
Sources said that the link for the group is based in Oke Ogun, however, escaped the arrest and moved to the old Oyo national park, which links the Kamoko forest that stretches from Kaduna to Niger and Kwara States and also links the Old Oyo State in Oke Ogun axis.
The arrest of some of the insurgents by security men operating in Oyo and Osun States was, however, said to have resulted in the recovery of several AK 47 rifles, and a hot pursuit of the linkman said to have stayed in Ago Are town in Oyo State for some time
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State said on Monday that some insurgents fleeing from the North had attempted to set up camps near Fashola Farms in Oyo State.
Sources told the Nigerian Tribune that the site mentioned by the governor, which was initially targeted as a suitable location is about five kilometers from Fashola Farms but that security agents have since blocked the secret plot.
“The Kamoko forest which stretches from Kaduna all through Niger and links Kwara and Oyo States through Old Oyo National Park is the route being relied upon by these terrorists to make their way into the Southwest.
“They intend to establish a base around the South-West and when security men got the hints, a hot pursuit was undertaken, leading to some arrests,” a source stated, adding that every effort was being made to neutralize the plot of the terrorists,” said the source.
Another independent source said that the terrorists’ linkman in Oke Ogun had planned to locate a suitable place ahead of a meeting of his collaborators and that the operatives had bursted the plot and scattered the bid for the secret base.
As a result of the development, it was learned that security agencies across the Northwest state of Kaduna, as well as North Central states of Niger and Kwara, and the Southwest States of Oyo, Osun, and Ogun States, are already placed on red alert to forestall any plot to establish a camp or base around the Southwest.
In another development, sources told Nigerian Tribune that security agents have arrested a traditional worshiper in Iseyin, Oyo State, for trying to incite religious disharmony.
It was gathered that the man was trying to dispute some claims in the Holy Quran and equally plans to extend the same treatment to the Holy Bible as a way of igniting confrontation among adherents of the different religions in parts of Oyo State.
Though the man was said to have escaped to Lekki, in Lagos State, Security agencies in Oyo and Ogun States were said to have worked assiduously to get him arrested.
