Security forces have been placed on high alert after intelligence revealed that jihadist groups are plotting coordinated attacks on the capital’s international airport and a major prison facility on its outskirts.
An internal memo dated April 13 from the Nigeria Customs Service, seen by AFP, warned of plans by Boko Haram and its rival Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) splinter group to launch a series of assaults in the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring Niger State.
The memo specifically identified Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and Kuje prison as potential targets around Abuja, along with the Wawa military detention centre in Niger State. It called for an “enhanced level of security within the Federal Capital Territory and its environs”.
According to the document, the militants’ intention is “to release detained terrorists and inflict significant damage on critical aviation infrastructure”. It added that ISWAP fighters “have already infiltrated” the capital in preparation for strikes on the airport and Kuje prison, while a Boko Haram faction linked to Ansaru and JNIM is eyeing the Wawa facility.
The alert comes amid persistent insecurity in Nigeria, where jihadist groups have carried out deadly attacks in the northeast for over 15 years, occasionally striking high-profile targets in the capital region. Kuje prison was previously raided by gunmen in 2022, leading to the escape of hundreds of inmates including suspected terrorists.
Security agencies have not yet issued a public statement on the latest intelligence, but sources familiar with the memo confirmed that measures have been stepped up at the identified sites to prevent any breach.
The development underscores ongoing challenges for Nigerian authorities in containing the threat of Islamist militants despite sustained military operations in the Lake Chad region.
Officials have urged heightened vigilance from the public and security personnel as investigations into the reported plots continue.
