A UNITED States–based humanitarian organisation, Equipping The Persecuted, has raised alarm over an alleged plan by armed groups to carry out coordinated attacks on several northern Nigerian communities on Christmas Day, sparking heightened security concerns and a swift pushback from the Presidency.
News Point Nigeria reports that the organisation’s founder, Judd Saul, made the claims during a roundtable meeting convened by the International Committee on Nigeria in collaboration with the African Jewish Alliance. The meeting, held on Wednesday in Washington DC, was chaired by former United States Congressman Frank Wolf.
Also in attendance were serving US lawmakers, including Congressmen Riley Moore and Chris Smith, Senator James Lankford, members of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, as well as a Nigerian delegation.
Addressing participants at the meeting, Saul claimed that terrorist groups were regrouping around strategic border communities in parts of Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue and Kaduna states in preparation for attacks timed for December 25.
According to him, the targeted areas include Riyom and Bokkos in Plateau State, Kafanchan in southern Kaduna, and Agatu in Benue State.
“They are gathering forces around the Plateau–Nasarawa border, along the Nasarawa–Benue border and along the Nasarawa–Kaduna border,” Saul said.
“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,” he added.
Saul appealed to the Nigerian government and United States President Donald Trump to intervene urgently to avert what he described as an impending humanitarian tragedy.
A source close to the US government told Saturday PUNCH that Saul had officially conveyed his organisation’s findings to US authorities through Congressman Riley Moore, who is expected to brief President Trump on the matter.
“All the congressmen at the meeting have been to Nigeria many times and have been involved in these issues for years. Saul has officially notified the US through Riley, who will be filing a report to President Trump,” the source disclosed.
It was further gathered that a closed-door meeting followed the public session, during which additional deliberations were held. Details of those discussions were not made public.
In Abuja, a senior officer of the Department of State Services (DSS) confirmed that the agency was aware of intelligence pointing to possible attacks during the Christmas period.
“The service is aware; we have the intelligence report and we are already working on it,” the officer said briefly on Friday.
Another DSS operative said the agency had intensified intelligence gathering nationwide, particularly in the Middle Belt, noting that festive periods often coincide with spikes in attacks.
“The intelligence report by the US NGO may be correct because communities in the Middle Belt have always come under attack during festive periods,” the operative said, adding that preventive measures were already in place.
Riyom and Bokkos local government areas in Plateau State have experienced repeated violent attacks in 2025.
On October 31, gunmen attacked the Kwi community in Riyom, killing at least six residents. Earlier, at least 32 people, including women and infants, were killed in Jebu village in Tahoss District of the same local government.
Between June 19 and 21, gunmen also attacked Juwan and Manja communities in Bokkos and neighbouring Mangu local government areas, leaving about 13 people dead.
Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State has similarly witnessed persistent violence. On June 1, no fewer than 28 people were killed in coordinated attacks on Edikwu Ankpali and Opaha communities.
In November, a pastor was killed and three others abducted near the Agatu–Ohimini border, while suspected herdsmen attacks were also reported in Chawai communities near Kafanchan in southern Kaduna last month.
Efforts to obtain official reactions from the Nigeria Police Force and the military were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, did not respond to calls or text messages. Similarly, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, could not be reached.
Police spokespersons in Kaduna, Plateau and Benue states also did not respond to inquiries, although a senior security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, assured that necessary measures were being taken.
“We will intensify surveillance for early warning and deepen intelligence penetration,” the official said, while adding that there was “no specific detailed intel” at that level.
Reacting to the development, the Presidency dismissed the alarm raised by the humanitarian organisation, describing it as potentially capable of creating unnecessary fear among Nigerians.
The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, urged Nigerians to exercise caution in circulating reports from external organisations without verifying their intent.
“We should be very careful how we digest and process some of these doubtful reports by external organisations who are setting the stage for internal crisis in our country,” Ajayi said.
He questioned the motive behind the alert, asking, “What is the agenda of this organisation in raising this kind of alarm about a likely terror attack in the three states and on Christmas Day?”
Ajayi, however, assured Nigerians that security agencies were fully prepared to prevent any threats.
“Our security forces are capable of foiling any terror attack and keeping us safe,” he said, adding that Nigerians should expect a peaceful Christmas and Yuletide season.