A humanitarian organisation has raised concerns over possible coordinated attacks by armed groups in parts of northern Nigeria during the Christmas holiday, prompting Nigerian security agencies to confirm they are taking preventive action.
The warning was issued by Equipping The Persecuted (ETP), a humanitarian group, which alleged that armed groups were regrouping around border communities in Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue and Kaduna states ahead of Christmas Day.
Areas Mentioned in the Alert
According to ETP, intelligence suggests potential threats in:
Riyom and Bokkos (Plateau State)
Agatu (Benue State)
Kafanchan axis (Southern Kaduna)
Border areas linking Nasarawa–Plateau, Nasarawa–Benue, and Nasarawa–Kaduna
The organisation’s founder, Judd Saul, disclosed the information during a roundtable meeting held on December 8 in Washington DC, organised by the International Committee on Nigeria and the African Jewish Alliance.
US Lawmakers Briefed
The meeting was chaired by former US Congressman Frank Wolf and attended by members of the US Congress, including Riley Moore, Chris Smith, Senator James Lankford, officials of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, and a Nigerian delegation.
Saul told participants that the intelligence received was “credible” and urged Nigerian authorities and international partners to act swiftly to prevent violence during the festive period.
DSS Confirms Awareness, Says Preventive Measures Ongoing
In Abuja, a senior official of the Department of State Services (DSS) confirmed that the agency was aware of the reported threat.
“The service has the intelligence report and is already working on it,” the official said.
Another DSS operative noted that security agencies were familiar with attack patterns in the Middle Belt, especially during festive periods, and assured that enhanced surveillance and intelligence-gathering were ongoing nationwide.
Background: Recent Attacks Raise Concerns
Communities in Plateau, Benue and Southern Kaduna have experienced repeated violent attacks in 2025, including deadly raids in:
Riyom and Bokkos (Plateau)
Agatu LGA (Benue)
Chawai communities near Kafanchan (Kaduna)
Security analysts say the history of attacks during holidays has heightened fears of renewed violence.
While the humanitarian organisation warned of a possible threat, Nigerian security agencies have not confirmed any imminent attack, stressing that preventive measures are in place.
Residents in the affected areas have been urged to remain vigilant, cooperate with security agencies, and report suspicious movements.