Nigeria’s security agencies have reportedly been placed on heightened alert following intelligence indicating a possible coordinated attack by suspected Islamist militants targeting key facilities in the Federal Capital Territory and parts of Niger State.
According to an internal memo said to have circulated within the Nigeria Customs Service and obtained by The Associated Press, potential targets include the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, a correctional facility within the capital, and a military detention centre in neighbouring Niger State.
The document, dated April 13, reportedly stated that the planned attacks aim to breach secured locations, free detained insurgents, and damage critical infrastructure, particularly within the aviation sector.
The memo also drew parallels with recent coordinated assaults in the Niger Republic, where air force installations in cities such as Niamey and Tahoua were attacked by militants.
It further referenced past incidents in Nigeria, including the 2022 prison break linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province, during which hundreds of inmates escaped custody.
Security assessments cited in the document suggest that sleeper cells connected to Boko Haram and ISWAP may be involved, raising fears of simultaneous strikes across multiple locations.
Although there has been no official statement from authorities, including the military and the Nigeria Customs Service, security operatives are said to have been placed on standby as a precautionary measure.
Nigeria continues to face a complex security environment, especially in the northern region, where insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping for ransom remain prevalent.
The development comes amid growing international concern, with the United States Government recently authorising the voluntary departure of non-essential diplomatic staff from its embassy in Abuja over heightened risks of terrorism and violent crime.
However, Nigerian authorities have described the move as a routine precaution and maintained that it does not reflect the overall security situation in the country.
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