Planned Christmas Day Attacks Exposed.

A humanitarian organisation, Equipping The Persecuted, has raised concern over what it described as a plan to carry out deadly attacks on Christmas Day in some northern communities.

In a swift response, the Presidency questioned the credibility of the warning, describing it as doubtful and capable of triggering unnecessary panic among Nigerians.

The organisation’s founder, Judd Saul, disclosed the information during a roundtable discussion organised by the International Committee on Nigeria in collaboration with the African Jewish Alliance.

The meeting took place on Wednesday in Washington, DC, United States, and was chaired by former U.S. Congressman Frank Wolf.

In attendance were Congressmen Riley Moore and Chris Smith, Senator James Lankford, members of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, as well as members of a Nigerian delegation.

Saul claimed that terrorist groups were regrouping ahead of the planned attacks.

According to him, “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.”

It was gathered that the meeting formed part of a broader series of engagements aimed at addressing Nigeria’s insecurity and allegations of attacks on Christian communities.

A source familiar with US government processes said Saul had formally transmitted 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.

Following Saul’s presentation, a separate closed-door session was reportedly held, during which further deliberations took place, though details were not made public.

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 already begun taking preventive steps.

“The service is aware; we have the intelligence report, and we are already working on it,” the officer said briefly.

Another operative of the service disclosed that intelligence-gathering activities had been intensified across the country.

“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 have a pattern. We have always provided intelligence. The report by the US NGO may be accurate because communities in the Middle Belt are often attacked during festive periods.

“But I am sure the service would also have picked up any planned attack by the bandits, and preventive measures would have been put in place,” he added.

Riyom and Bokkos local government areas of Plateau State have recorded repeated attacks in 2025.

On October 31, gunmen reportedly attacked the Kwi community in Riyom, killing at least six people.

Another major incident occurred in Jebu village, Tahoss District of the same local government area, where no fewer than 32 villagers, including women and infants, were killed.

Between June 19 and 21, armed men invaded the Juwan and Manja communities in Bokkos and neighbouring Mangu local government areas, killing about 13 people.

Several other attacks in the two council areas were said to have gone unreported.

Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State has also experienced multiple attacks this year, resulting in dozens of deaths.

The deadliest incident occurred on June 1 in Edikwu Ankpali and Opaha communities, where at least 28 people, reportedly mostly Christians, were killed.

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 undisclosed number of residents and forcing many others to flee.

Attempts to reach the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful, as calls and text 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.

Efforts to obtain reactions from the police commands in Kaduna, Plateau and Benue states also proved unsuccessful.

While the Benue State Police spokesperson, Udeme Edet, promised to respond later, other state police spokespersons did not answer their calls.

However, a senior security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorisation to speak publicly, assured that steps would be taken to prevent any attacks.

He said, “We will intensify surveillance for early warning and continue to deepen our intelligence penetration. However, there is no specific detailed intelligence at this end.”

Presidency Questions Alert

Reacting to the claims, the Presidency dismissed the alert, saying it could fuel unnecessary fear.

Responding to enquiries, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, cautioned Nigerians against spreading unverified 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.”

Ajayi also questioned the intent behind the warning, asking, “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 nonetheless reassured Nigerians that security agencies were 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 a peaceful Christmas and Yuletide season.”

Middle Belt, Southern Kaduna Groups Seek Security Boost

The Middle Belt Forum said it had not formally received such intelligence but noted that the claims might not be far from reality.

The forum’s president, Dr Bitrus Pogu, said similar intelligence had been received weeks before the Yelwata attack and forwarded to authorities.

“Before the Fulani militia attacked the Yelwata community, we already knew about it three weeks earlier. So, the intelligence may not be far from the truth.

“But we still have a government in place. So, the authorities will be alerted to ensure that vulnerable communities, especially those dominated by Christians, are adequately protected during Christmas,” he said.

Similarly, the spokesperson of the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union, Josiah Abraks, said communities in the area were often targeted during festive periods.

“I am not fully aware of that information. But the southern parts of Kaduna have always been attacked during the Yuletide. Bandits strike communities on Christmas Day,” Abraks said.

“We appeal to security agencies to deploy personnel to strategic locations across the state during the festive period.

“We will also urge our communities to be vigilant and report any suspicious movement to the appropriate authorities,” he added.