Security Forces in Nigeria have been placed on high alert following intelligence of a planned terrorist attack targeting key public infrastructure in Abuja and neighbouring Niger State, according to an internal memo dated April 13 and obtained on Wednesday, April 15.
The document, attributed to the Nigeria Customs Service, identified potential targets including the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, a prison facility in the capital, and a military detention centre in Niger State. The memo warned that the attackers aim to free detained militants and cause significant damage to aviation infrastructure.
Authorities noted similarities between the alleged plot and a January attack in Niamey, where terrorists struck an air force base, raising concerns about attempts to replicate such operations within Nigeria. The alert also referenced a 2022 prison break in Abuja, during which 879 inmates escaped, including 64 linked to extremist groups.
A senior official indicated that military and paramilitary forces have been mobilized to prevent any attack. The threat is believed to involve Boko Haram and its affiliates. Nigeria continues to grapple with a multifaceted security crisis, particularly in its northern regions, where insurgency and kidnapping-for-ransom operations remain persistent challenges.