Urgent Warning of Christmas Day Attack in Northern Nigeria Sparks Debate
A humanitarian organization has issued a grave warning regarding a purported plot to carry out widespread killings in several northern Nigerian communities on Christmas Day. The alert, raised by Equipping The Persecuted, has ignited a swift response from the Nigerian Presidency, which has questioned the group’s motives and suggested the warning could incite unwarranted public anxiety.
The founder of Equipping The Persecuted, Judd Saul, disclosed the alleged plot during a roundtable discussion convened by the International Committee on Nigeria and the African Jewish Alliance. The meeting, held in Washington D.C., United States, was presided over by former congressman Frank Wolf. The gathering also saw the participation of prominent figures including Congressmen Riley Moore and Chris Smith, Senator James Lankford, members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and a Nigerian delegation.
Saul asserted that militant groups have begun consolidating their forces for the planned assaults. He indicated that these groups are amassing personnel and resources near the borders of Plateau and Nasarawa states, as well as along the Nasarawa-Benue and Nasarawa-Kaduna corridors. The intended targets, according to Saul, are the communities of Riyom, Bokkos, Kafanchan, and Agatu, with attacks scheduled for Christmas Day.
“We have received highly credible intelligence indicating that they are arming themselves for a Christmas Day massacre,” Saul stated. He appealed to both the Nigerian government and international leaders, specifically mentioning President Donald Trump, to intervene to prevent a tragedy involving the loss of Christian lives in Nigeria.
This meeting is part of a series of discussions aimed at addressing the escalating insecurity crisis in Nigeria and the concerns surrounding the alleged targeting of Christians. Sources close to the U.S. government confirmed that Saul had formally relayed the intelligence gathered by his organization to the U.S. administration through Congressman Riley Moore.
According to a source privy to the discussions, the congressmen present at the meeting have extensive experience with Nigeria, having been involved in addressing the country’s security challenges for many years. These officials have largely characterized the perpetrators of the violence as terrorists and jihadists. Congressman Moore is reportedly preparing to submit a comprehensive report on the matter to President Trump.
Following Saul’s presentation, a separate, closed-door session was reportedly held to delve deeper into the issue, though the specifics of these discussions remain undisclosed.
Security Agencies Acknowledge Intelligence, Vow Action
In Abuja, a senior official from the Department of State Services (DSS) confirmed that the agency is aware of the potential Christmas Day attacks and has already initiated preventive measures. “The service is aware; we have the intelligence report and are actively working on it,” the officer stated.
Another DSS operative elaborated on the agency’s efforts, noting that intelligence gathering operations have been intensified nationwide. The operative highlighted a recognizable pattern in attacks in the affected regions, drawing from personal experience in Kaduna. They expressed confidence that the DSS would have independently obtained information about any planned attacks by militant groups and would have implemented countermeasures. The operative also suggested that the intelligence from the U.S. NGO might align with existing information, given that communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt have historically faced attacks during festive seasons.
A History of Violence in Targeted Areas
The communities of Riyom and Bokkos in Plateau State have been recurrent victims of banditry throughout 2025. Notable incidents include:
- October 31: An attack on the Kwi community in Riyom resulted in the deaths of at least six individuals.
- Recent Attack: The Jebu village in Tahoss District, within the same local government area, experienced a significant assault where at least 32 villagers, including women and infants, were killed.
- June 19-21: Gunmen raided the Juwan and Manja communities in Bokkos and the neighboring Mangu local government areas, leading to approximately 13 fatalities.
It is understood that numerous attacks on communities in these two local government areas have gone unreported.
Communities in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State have also endured severe attacks this year, with dozens of lives lost. The most devastating incident occurred on June 1, when Edikwu Ankpali and Opaha communities were targeted, resulting in the deaths of no fewer than 28 individuals, believed to be predominantly Christians. Earlier in November, a pastor was killed and three others were abducted in Anwule village, situated near the Agatu and Ohimini border. In Southern Kaduna, suspected Fulani herdsmen reportedly attacked Chawai communities near Kafanchan last month, causing an unspecified number of deaths and widespread displacement.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, and the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, were unsuccessful. Similarly, responses from the Kaduna, Plateau, and Benue state police commands were not immediately forthcoming. While the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer promised to follow up, he did not provide further information by press time.
Despite the lack of specific detailed intelligence at their end, a senior official who requested anonymity pledged that necessary actions would be taken to prevent any attacks. He assured that surveillance would be intensified for early warning and that intelligence penetration efforts would be deepened.
Presidency Dismisses Alert, Urges Caution
The Nigerian Presidency has publicly dismissed the humanitarian group’s alert, characterizing the claims as potentially creating undue public fear. Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, advised the public to exercise caution when processing reports from external organizations without scrutinizing their underlying intentions.
“We must be extremely careful in how we digest and process some of these questionable reports from external organizations that appear to be setting the stage for internal crises in our country,” Ajayi stated. “We should not be providing oxygen for reports that heighten a sense of insecurity.”
Ajayi questioned the motives behind the organization’s alarm, asking, “What is the motive and agenda of this organization in raising this kind of alarm about a likely terror attack in the three states on Christmas Day?”
He, however, reassured Nigerians that the nation’s security agencies are fully equipped and prepared to thwart any threats. “Whatever the motive, our security forces are capable of foiling any terror attack and ensuring our safety,” he affirmed. “Nigerians should not entertain any fear in any part of the country. The police and the military are working diligently to guarantee a peaceful Christmas and Yuletide season.”
Civil Society Groups Call for Enhanced Security Measures
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) indicated that while they had not formally received the specific intelligence, there were strong indications that the claims might hold some truth. Dr. Bitrus Pogu, President of the MBF, noted that the forum had previously alerted relevant authorities about impending attacks based on similar intelligence three weeks before the Yelwata incident.
“Before the Fulani militia attacked the Yelwata community, we were already aware that the attack would occur three weeks prior. Therefore, this intelligence may not be far from the truth,” Pogu explained. He emphasized that the government, which has not declared failure, should be alerted to take necessary actions to protect vulnerable communities, particularly those predominantly Christian, during the Christmas period. Pogu added that the government should officially acknowledge awareness of any malicious plans to attack, kill, maim, and displace people, a practice that has unfortunately become recurrent.
Similarly, Josiah Abraks, spokesperson for the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union (SOKAPU), highlighted the historical pattern of bandit attacks in the southern Kaduna region during festive periods. “I am not fully aware of the specific information. However, southern Kaduna has consistently been subjected to attacks during the Yuletide season. Bandits do attack communities in the area on Christmas Day,” Abraks stated. He urged security agencies to deploy operatives to strategic locations across the state during the festive season and implored communities to maintain vigilance and report any suspicious movements to the authorities.
