A humanitarian group, Equipping The Persecuted, has sounded an alarm over what it described as a plot to carry out deadly attacks on Christmas Day in parts of northern Nigeria.
The Presidency, however, swiftly reacted by questioning the credibility of the warning, stating that the alert appeared doubtful and could unnecessarily heighten fear among Nigerians.
The organisation’s founder, Judd Saul, raised the concern during a roundtable session organised by the International Committee on Nigeria and the African Jewish Alliance.
The meeting, held on Wednesday in Washington DC, United States, was chaired by former congressman Frank Wolf.
Those present at the gathering included Congressmen Riley Moore and Chris Smith, Senator James Lankford, members of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, as well as some Nigerian representatives.
Saul alleged that terrorists were regrouping ahead of the planned attacks.
He stated, “They are gathering forces around the Plateau and Nasarawa border, along the Nasarawa-Benue border and along the Nasarawa-Kaduna border. They are planning to hit on Christmas Day in Riyom, Bokkos, Kafanchan and Agatu.
“We got very reliable information that they are weaponising for a Christmas Day massacre. I am imploring the Nigerian government and President Donald Trump to do something so we don’t have a bunch of dead Christians in Nigeria.”
Sources disclosed that the meeting formed part of a series of discussions aimed at addressing Nigeria’s security challenges and concerns over the alleged killing of Christians.
A source close to the US government said Saul had formally relayed the intelligence received by his organisation to US authorities through Congressman Riley Moore.
“All the congressmen at the meeting have been to Nigeria many times. They’ve been involved in this matter since (Bill) Clinton was president. They classified the attackers mostly as terrorists and jihadists. Saul has officially notified the US through Riley, who will be filing a report to President Trump on it,” the source said.
It was further learnt that a separate closed-door meeting took place after Saul’s presentation, during which additional deliberations were held, although details were not disclosed.
A senior official of the Department of State Services in Abuja confirmed that the agency was aware of the alleged Christmas Day plot and had begun preventive actions.
“The service is aware; we have the intelligence report and we are already working on it,” the officer said briefly.
Another DSS operative noted that intelligence gathering had been intensified nationwide.
“We know the trend of attacks in those areas. I was in Kaduna for over two years, and I can tell you that these people (bandits) have a pattern. We (DSS) have always provided intelligence. The intelligence report by the US NGO may be correct, because communities in the Middle Belt have always come under attack during festive periods.
“But I am sure the service would also have got wind of any planned attack by the bandits, and preventive measures would have been put in place,” he said.
Riyom and Bokkos local government areas in Plateau State have experienced repeated attacks in 2025.
On October 31, gunmen attacked the Kwi community in Riyom, killing at least six people.
Another deadly assault occurred at Jebu village in the Tahoss District of the same council area, where no fewer than 32 residents, including women and infants, were killed.
Between June 19 and 21, armed attackers invaded the Juwan and Manja communities in Bokkos and neighbouring Mangu local government areas, leaving about 13 people dead.
Many attacks in the two local government areas were said to have gone unreported.
Communities in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State have also suffered violent attacks this year, with dozens reportedly killed.
The deadliest incident occurred on June 1 at Edikwu Ankpali and Opaha communities, where at least 28 people, said to be mostly Christians, lost their lives.
Earlier in November, a pastor was killed, and three others were abducted at Anwule village near the Agatu–Ohimini boundary.
Last month, suspected Fulani herdsmen were also reported to have attacked Chawai communities near Kafanchan in Southern Kaduna, killing an unspecified number of people and displacing many residents.
Efforts to reach the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages were not returned.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja could not be reached for comments as of the time of filing this report.
Attempts to obtain reactions from the police commands in Kaduna, Plateau and Benue states were also unsuccessful.
While the Benue State Police spokesperson, Udeme Edet, promised to respond later, other state police spokespersons did not answer calls.
However, a senior security official, who requested anonymity due to a lack of authorisation to speak to the media, assured that steps would be taken to prevent any attack.
He said, “We will intensify surveillance for early warning and continue to deepen our intelligence penetration. However, there is no specific detailed Intel at this end.”
Presidency Dismisses Alert
Reacting to the claims, the Presidency dismissed the warning, describing it as capable of causing unnecessary panic.
Responding to enquiries, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, urged the public to be cautious about reports from external organisations.
He said, “We should be very careful how we digest and process some of these doubtful reports by external organisations who are setting a stage for an internal crisis in our country. We should not be providing oxygen for reports that heighten a sense of insecurity in our country.”
Questioning the intent behind the alert, Ajayi added, “What is the motive and agenda of this organisation in raising this kind of alarm about a likely terror attack in the three states and on Christmas Day?”
He nevertheless reassured Nigerians that security agencies were fully prepared to counter any threat.
“Whatever the motive is, our security forces are capable of foiling any terror attack and keeping us safe,” he said.
“Nigerians should not entertain any fear in any part of the country. The police and the military are working to ensure we have a peaceful Christmas and Yuletide season.”
MBF, SOKAPU Call For Stronger Security
The Middle Belt Forum stated that although it had not officially received such intelligence, there were indications that the warning might not be far from the truth.
The forum’s president, Dr Bitrus Pogu, said the group had previously received similar intelligence weeks before the Yelwata attack and had alerted authorities.
“Before the Fulani militia attacked the Yelwata community, we had already known that the attack would happen three weeks before. So, Intel may not be far from the truth.
“But we still have a government in place, which hasn’t told us it has failed completely. So, the government will be alerted for them to do the needful and ensure that vulnerable communities in the state, especially those dominated by Christians, are adequately protected for Christmas,” Pogu said.
He added that it was important for authorities to be officially aware of any alleged plans to attack communities.
Similarly, the spokesperson for the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union, Josiah Abraks, said communities in the area were frequently attacked during festive seasons.
“I am not fully aware of that information. But southern parts of Kaduna have always been attacked during the Yuletide. Bandits attack communities in the area on Christmas Day,” Abraks said.
“We just have to plead with the security agencies to ensure that security operatives are mounted in strategic areas across the state during the festive period.
“Secondly, we will implore our communities to mount surveillance and report any strange movement of unknown persons in their areas to the appropriate authorities,” he added.
