Nigeria’s security agencies have issued a warning regarding credible threats of coordinated terrorist attacks aimed at key locations in and around the capital, Abuja. An internal memo from the Nigerian Customs Service, dated April 13, highlights planned assaults by Boko Haram and its rival faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). This memo, which was obtained by AFP, calls for increased security measures throughout the Federal Capital Territory and its surrounding areas.
The document identifies potential targets, including the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Kuje Prison on the outskirts of Abuja, and the Wawa military prison in neighboring Niger State. The threats are characterized as “credible” and involve a series of coordinated operations intended to destabilize the region. In response to intelligence about a possible attack on the prison, the Kuje area council recently imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in at least four villages. This precaution follows a similar incident in July 2022, when armed militants breached Kuje Prison, resulting in the escape of hundreds of inmates.
Since 2009, Nigeria has been struggling with a jihadist insurgency, with violence escalating over the past year. In light of the deteriorating security situation, the US embassy in Abuja has advised non-emergency staff to leave the country. However, Nigerian government officials have dismissed these concerns, asserting that Abuja remains safe and is not facing an 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 planned attacks. Reports indicate that the assault on Wawa prison is 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. While authorities have yet to confirm the specifics of the threat, the memo underscores the persistent and evolving nature of extremist violence in Nigeria. Security forces are currently on high alert as they work to prevent any potential attacks and protect critical infrastructure.
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