Nigeria’s security agencies have been placed on high alert following fresh intelligence uncovering a planned wave of attacks by jihadist groups targeting key aviation and correctional infrastructure in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and neighboring states.
According to an internal memo from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) dated April 13 and obtained by AFP, credible reports indicate that Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) are coordinating a series of strikes within Abuja and its environs.
The memo called for an “enhanced level of security” as authorities scramble to respond to the burgeoning threat.
High-Value Targets
The intelligence identifies the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre as primary targets. Also listed is the Wawa military prison in neighboring Niger State, which holds high-profile insurgency suspects.
The document warns that the threat is imminent, stating that “ISWAP operatives have already infiltrated the FCT to facilitate the attacks.”
The focus on Kuje Prison has raised particular alarm. The facility was the site of a sophisticated assault in 2022, where ISWAP fighters successfully freed hundreds of inmates, including high-ranking militants. Earlier this month, the Kuje Area Council imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in several communities following “credible intelligence” regarding a potential kinetic assault on the facility.
Regional Coordination
The NCS memo further noted that the plot against the Wawa military prison is reportedly being orchestrated by Boko Haram elements based in Niger State. This operation is said to involve collaboration with Ansaru and JNIM, terror groups currently operating across the wider Sahel region.
Security analysts noted that the inclusion of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in the threat profile shows a “concerning correlation” with recent attacks on aviation facilities in the Niger Republic, including a recent incident in Niamey claimed by an Islamic State affiliate.
Government Response
Despite the gravity of the internal memo, government officials have urged residents of the capital to remain calm. Official spokespersons maintained that Abuja remains safe and that security forces are in full control of the situation.
The government described recent foreign travel advisories and leaked security warnings as “precautionary measures” rather than an indication of an inevitable breach. However, security presence has visibly tightened around the mentioned locations as of Monday morning.
