Both the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force have alerted the nation to planned attacks on places of worship and other public locations. In response, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic civil liberties organisation, has outlined precautionary measures for Muslim groups and individuals across the country.
The precautionary measures were contained in a press statement issued on Tuesday, 15th September, 2026, by MURIC’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The statement reads:
“The Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force have alerted the nation to planned attacks on places of worship by terrorists.
“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 during weekend Asalatu (group supplication) gatherings.
“Apart from employing private security guards, mosque officials and Islamic organisations must engage both the police and the DSS in discussions. Information about forthcoming programmes should be communicated to security agencies. Guards should not join others in congregational prayers. They should organise separate prayer sessions after the general prayers.
“Islamic organisations and individuals must be wary of strange faces at their gatherings. People carrying suspicious bags and luggage, especially backpacks, must not be allowed into mosque premises.
“In particular, prayer in shifts should be introduced to allow at least a small group of not less than five people to watch over those praying, while the watching group takes the prayer floor after the first group has finished.
“In the event 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 a stampede. In the event of a bomb explosion, people should not rush towards the explosion site, as they may fall victim to a secondary explosion.
“This is not the time for fatalistic ideology. We remind Muslims of a hadith of the Prophet (SAW) in which he cautioned one of his followers to still tie his horse after the latter said he had left his horse in the care of Allah.
“The Glorious Qur’an issued a more direct and pragmatic instruction. It commanded Muslims to be fully prepared for the enemy. Allah 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
