The Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps says it has arrested a suspected terrorist inside a mosque in Abeokuta, the state capital.

The NSCDC, in a statement on Sunday, said 33-year-old Ibrahim Erinoso, who claimed to be a native of the Idi-isin area of Abeokuta, was arrested by its operatives at Ijeun Lukosi Central Mosque, Abeokuta at 9pm on Saturday.

The corps' Public Relations Officer, Mr. Kareem Olanrewaju, said items recovered from the suspect included a phone, two bags containing different items and a Saber sword (2.8ft long) hidden in a specially designed cover to prevent detection.

Olanrewaju said, "When interrogated, the suspect claimed that he came to Abeokuta from Zaria and not having where to lay his head, stopped at the mosque to pass the night and that the sword found in his possession was purchased in Zaria to protect himself from attack by area boys.

"He also said he shuttles between Zaria in Kaduna State and Ilorin, Kwara State, adding that he had lots of friends in Zaria."

According to the NSCDC spokesman, there were strong reasons to believe that the suspect was on a mission.

He stressed that it was wrong for the suspect to attempt to pass the night in a mosque when he was a native of Abeokuta and his house, according to him, was not far away.

Olanrewaju said the suspect would be transferred to the appropriate agency after completion of preliminary investigation.

He urged members of the public to always inform security agencies whenever they were suspicious of movement or activities around them.