A major security alert has been raised over a chilling plot by terrorist groups to carry out deadly attacks on Christian communities in northern Nigeria on Christmas Day. The warning was issued by the humanitarian organization, Equipping The Persecuted, during an international roundtable in Washington DC.
Specific States and Communities Targeted
The founder of Equipping The Persecuted, Judd Saul, revealed that intelligence indicates terrorists are regrouping for coordinated strikes. He stated that the assailants are gathering forces around specific interstate borders with the intent to attack on December 25.
The identified flashpoints are the borders between Plateau and Nasarawa, Nasarawa and Benue, and Nasarawa and Kaduna states. Specific communities named as potential targets include Riyom and Bokkos in Plateau State, Kafanchan in Kaduna State, and Agatu in Benue State.
"We got very reliable information that they are weaponising for a Christmas Day massacre. I am imploring the Nigerian government and President Donald Trump to do something so we don’t have a bunch of dead Christians in Nigeria," Saul urgently appealed.
International Attention and DSS Confirmation
The alarming disclosure was made at a meeting convened on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, by the International Committee on Nigeria and the African Jewish Alliance. The gathering was chaired by former US congressman Frank Wolf and attended by several US officials, including Congressmen Riley Moore and Chris Smith, and Senator James Lankford.
Sources confirmed that Saul formally communicated the intelligence to the US government through Congressman Riley Moore, who is expected to file a report to President Trump. Following the presentation, a closed-door session was held for further deliberations.
In a significant development, a senior officer of Nigeria's Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja confirmed the agency's awareness of the threat. The officer stated, "The service is aware; we have the intelligence report and we are already working on it."
Another DSS operative explained that the service had intensified nationwide intelligence-gathering, noting that attacks on Middle Belt communities during festive periods follow a known pattern. Preventive measures are reportedly being implemented.
Context of Recent Violence in the Region
The warning comes against a backdrop of persistent violence in the mentioned states throughout 2025:
- Plateau State: Riyom and Bokkos have suffered repeated attacks. On October 31, bandits killed at least six in Kwi community, Riyom. A major assault in Jebu village, Tahoss District, claimed at least 32 lives, including women and infants. Between June 19 and 21, gunmen invaded Juwan and Manja communities in Bokkos and Mangu, killing about 13 people.
- Benue State: In Agatu LGA, at least 28 people were killed in Edikwu Ankpali and Opaha communities on June 1. Earlier in November, a pastor was killed and three others kidnapped at Anwule village near the Agatu-Ohimini border.
- Kaduna State: Southern Kaduna was attacked last month when suspected herdsmen raided Chawai communities near Kafanchan, killing an undisclosed number and displacing many.
The alerts from both a humanitarian organization and Nigeria's premier security agency underscore the severe and ongoing insecurity in the region. They highlight growing fears of coordinated violence aimed at disrupting the Christmas celebrations and targeting specific communities. While security agencies have given assurances, the situation calls for heightened vigilance and swift, decisive action to avert a potential tragedy.
