Fear and heightened vigilance have gripped parts of Lagos following the arrest of two men suspected to be members of the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, in the state.
Security sources disclosed that operatives of the State Security Service apprehended the suspects during an early-morning operation that drew on prior intelligence assessments.
Those arrested were identified as Modu Gana and Ibrahim Dugge, both believed to have recently moved from Nigeria’s insurgency-affected North-east into the country’s commercial capital.
According to a security official familiar with the operation, the arrests took place in the Apapa axis at about 8:45 a.m. on Sunday, December 21. The official said the operation was conducted quietly to avoid public panic.
“Both individuals are currently in custody and are being thoroughly questioned to establish their movements, contacts, and possible intentions,” the source said.
Investigators further revealed that the operation followed weeks of surveillance triggered by intelligence reports pointing to a possible relocation of extremist elements into urban centres outside their traditional areas of operation.
However, official confirmation from the State Security Service was not immediately available.
A representative of the agency’s media unit said the incident had not yet been formally briefed to them.
Since the redeployment of its former spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, the SSS has largely reduced public commentary on ongoing operations, a strategy officials have repeatedly linked to operational efficiency.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities have not established the specific reason the suspects were in Lagos, nor is there concrete evidence suggesting an imminent attack.
Nevertheless, security analysts have cautioned against complacency.
One analyst noted that extremist groups have increasingly explored expansion beyond the North-east, stressing that “urban migration by terror cells often signals an attempt to test security architecture rather than immediate action.”
Meanwhile, residents have been urged to remain calm but vigilant, as security agencies continue intelligence-led operations aimed at preventing any potential threat to public safety in Lagos.