Abuja & Niger State, Nigeria
Nigeria’s security forces have been placed on high alert following intelligence reports of a planned large-scale attack targeting key public infrastructure in Abuja and neighbouring Niger State.
An internal memo dated April 13, reportedly obtained from the Nigeria Customs Service, indicates that Islamist militant groups are planning coordinated attacks on the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, a prison facility in the capital, and a military detention centre in Niger State.
According to the memo, the attackers’ objective is to free detained terrorists and cause major damage to aviation infrastructure.
The document warns that the planned operation closely resembles a recent attack in Niger Republic, where Islamist militants stormed an air force base in Niamey earlier this year.
It further highlights growing concern among security agencies about a possible replication of similar tactics in Nigeria.
“An analysis of the report reveals a concerning correlation… suggesting a possible intent by terrorists to replicate the attack patterns within Nigeria,” the memo stated.
A senior official within the Nigeria Customs Service, who is not authorised to speak publicly, confirmed that security agencies have intensified vigilance across key locations.
“The military and paramilitary forces are all on high alert and ready to forestall the attack,” the official said.
As of the time of filing this report, both the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian military have not issued official responses to the development.
The warning has revived memories of a similar security breach in 2022, when armed attackers stormed a correctional facility in Abuja, leading to the escape of 879 inmates, including suspected members of extremist groups.
That incident was later claimed by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), one of the major militant groups operating in the region.
Nigeria continues to grapple with a complex and evolving security crisis, particularly in the northern regions, where insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping-for-ransom have persisted for over a decade.
Among the most prominent groups involved in these activities are Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, ISWAP. Intelligence in the memo also points to the possible involvement of sleeper cells linked to these groups in the planned attacks.
Additionally, another armed group linked to the Islamic State, known as the Lakurawa group, has reportedly been active in communities in northwestern Nigeria, especially near the Niger Republic border.
The development comes amid heightened international concern over Nigeria’s security situation.
Last week, the United States authorised the departure of non-emergency government personnel and their families from its Abuja embassy, citing increased risks of terrorist attacks, kidnappings, and violent crime. The embassy has since been shut.
However, Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, described the move as a routine precaution.
He said the decision was based on internal U.S. protocols and does not reflect the overall security situation in the country.
With intelligence reports pointing to possible coordinated attacks, security agencies are expected to maintain heightened surveillance and deploy preventive measures across identified high-risk locations.
Authorities have yet to publicly confirm specific operational steps, but officials insist they are prepared to respond swiftly to any threat.