The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has listed precautions for Muslim groups and individuals following a terror alert issued by the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Police.
The group outlined the precautionary steps in a press statement issued on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The statement reads, "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 organisations 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 organise separate prayer sessions at the end of the general prayers.
"Islamic organisations and individuals must be wary of strange faces at their gatherings. People carrying bags and baggage (especially backpacks) 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 to 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."
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