Nigeria on high alert over planned militant attacks on Abuja airport and prison
Nigeria’s security forces have been placed on high alert following intelligence warnings of a planned large-scale terrorist attack targeting key infrastructure in Abuja and nearby regions.
According to an internal memo dated April 13 from the Nigeria Customs Service, suspected militants are planning coordinated attacks on the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and a prison facility in the capital. A military detention centre in neighbouring Niger state has also been identified as a possible target.
The memo warned that the attackers intend to release detained terrorists and damage critical aviation infrastructure , raising fears of a major security incident at one of the country’s busiest airports. Intelligence officials said the suspected plot resembles a January militant assault on an air force base in Niamey , in neighbouring Niger, suggesting extremists may be attempting to replicate similar tactics in Nigeria.
Security agencies believe the attack could involve sleeper cells linked to Boko Haram and its breakaway faction Islamic State West Africa Province, two of the most active extremist organisations operating in the region.
Authorities remain particularly concerned because of a similar incident in 2022 when militants attacked the Kuje prison near Abuja, allowing 879 inmates to escape , including 64 suspected ISWAP fighters .
A senior customs official said military and paramilitary forces have intensified surveillance and patrols around strategic facilities to prevent any attempted attack.
The warning comes amid Nigeria’s worsening security crisis , particularly in northern regions where insurgents and criminal gangs remain active.
Meanwhile, the United States authorised the departure of non-essential embassy staff from Abuja due to rising terrorism and kidnapping risks. Nigeria’s Information Minister Mohammed Idris described the move as a routine precaution that does not reflect the overall security situation in the country.