Nigeria’s security agencies have raised the alarm over credible threats of coordinated terrorist attacks targeting key locations in and around the capital, Abuja. An internal memo from the Nigerian Customs Service, dated April 13, warns of planned assaults by Boko Haram and its rival faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The memo, seen by AFP, calls for heightened security measures across the Federal Capital Territory and surrounding areas.
According to the document, potential targets include the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Kuje Prison on the outskirts of Abuja, and the Wawa military prison in neighbouring Niger State. The threats are described as “credible” and involve a series of coordinated operations aimed at destabilising the region.
Earlier this month, the Kuje area council imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in at least four villages following intelligence about a possible attack on the prison. This follows a similar assault on Kuje Prison in July 2022, when armed militants breached the facility, freeing hundreds of inmates.
Nigeria has been grappling with a jihadist insurgency since 2009, with violence intensifying over the past year. The US embassy in Abuja recently advised non-emergency staff to leave the country due to the deteriorating security situation. However, Nigerian government officials have dismissed these concerns, insisting that Abuja remains safe and is not under imminent threat. The country’s information minister described the US advisory as a precautionary measure based on internal protocols.
The customs memo further alleges that ISWAP operatives have already infiltrated the Federal Capital Territory to facilitate the attacks. The Wawa prison assault is reportedly being orchestrated by Boko Haram’s Niger State cell in collaboration with Ansaru, a Nigerian jihadist group, and JNIM, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated coalition active in the Sahel region.
Authorities have yet to confirm the specifics of the threat, but the memo underscores the persistent and evolving nature of extremist violence in Nigeria. Security forces are on high alert as they work to prevent any potential attacks and safeguard critical infrastructure.
