A humanitarian organisation, Equipping The Persecuted, has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to carry out coordinated attacks on Christmas Day in parts of northern Nigeria.
The group’s founder, Judd Saul, disclosed this during a security-focused roundtable in Washington DC, United States, convened by the International Committee on Nigeria and the African Jewish Alliance. The meeting was chaired by former U.S. congressman Frank Wolf and attended by other American lawmakers and security stakeholders.
Saul claimed that armed groups were regrouping around border communities linking Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue and Kaduna states, with specific targets allegedly including Riyom, Bokkos, Kafanchan and Agatu on Christmas Day. He urged Nigerian authorities and the international community to act swiftly to prevent a potential massacre.
Sources familiar with the meeting told Frontline Reporters that the discussions formed part of ongoing international engagements on Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly recurring attacks on communities during festive periods. It was also learnt that the intelligence had been formally shared with relevant authorities.
In Abuja, a senior official of the Department of State Services (DSS) confirmed awareness of the report, noting that preventive measures and intelligence operations had been intensified nationwide. Security operatives said agencies were familiar with attack patterns in the affected areas and were taking steps to forestall any threat.
Communities in parts of Plateau, Benue and Southern Kaduna have suffered repeated attacks in recent months, especially during public holidays, heightening concerns among residents as the Christmas season approaches.
However, the Presidency dismissed the alert as speculative and potentially alarmist. Responding to enquiries from Frontline Reporters, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, urged Nigerians to treat unverified reports from external groups with caution.
According to him, security agencies are fully prepared to ensure a peaceful Christmas, stressing that the circulation of doubtful alerts could unnecessarily heighten fear. He assured Nigerians that the police and military were on alert and capable of preventing any attempted attacks.
Meanwhile, regional groups including the Middle Belt Forum and the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union have called for heightened security and vigilance in vulnerable communities, urging residents to report suspicious movements promptly as the festive period approaches.
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