A United States–based humanitarian organization, Equipping The Persecuted, has raised an alarm over a reported plot by armed groups to carry out coordinated attacks on several northern Nigerian communities on Christmas Day.
The alert was issued by the organization’s founder, Judd Saul, during a roundtable meeting in Washington DC organized by the International Committee on Nigeria and the African Jewish Alliance. The meeting was chaired by former US Congressman Frank Wolf and attended by members of the US Congress, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, and a Nigerian delegation.
Saul claimed that armed groups were regrouping across parts of the Middle Belt, including the Plateau–Nasarawa border, Nasarawa–Benue border, and Nasarawa–Kaduna axis, with plans to strike on Christmas Day in Riyom, Bokkos, Kafanchan, and Agatu. “We have very reliable information that they are weaponising for a Christmas Day massacre,” he said, urging both the Nigerian government and US authorities to act urgently.
A source close to the US government said Saul formally transmitted the intelligence to US authorities via Congressman Riley Moore, who is expected to file a report to President Donald Trump.
In Nigeria, the Department of State Services (DSS) confirmed receipt of the intelligence and said preventive measures are already underway. A senior DSS officer told PUNCH Newspaper, “The service is aware; we have the intelligence report and we are already working on it.” Another operative noted that attacks in Plateau, Southern Kaduna, and Benue often coincide with festive periods, stressing that security operations had been intensified nationwide.
Communities in Riyom and Bokkos local government areas of Plateau State have suffered repeated attacks in 2025, including the killing of at least six people in Kwi community on October 31, and 32 villagers in Jebu village earlier in the year.
The Presidency, however, dismissed the alert as unverified and warned that such reports could incite unnecessary panic. Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said Nigerians should treat external reports cautiously and rely on security agencies, which are prepared to ensure a peaceful Christmas season.
“Our security forces are capable of foiling any terror attack. Nigerians should not entertain fear,” Ajayi said.
