Security agencies in Nigeria have intensified surveillance at key installations in Abuja and Niger State following intelligence suggesting a possible coordinated attack by insurgent groups.
The Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, and Nigeria Correctional Service confirmed that additional security measures have been deployed around airports and custodial centres after reports of a planned strike targeting sensitive facilities.
The warning reportedly stemmed from an internal memo attributed to the Nigeria Customs Service, which indicated that terrorist groups including ISWAP, Boko Haram, Ansaru, and JNIM were planning attacks on the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Kuje Custodial Centre, and other detention facilities in Niger State.
The document alleged that the groups had already infiltrated parts of the Federal Capital Territory and were planning coordinated assaults aimed at freeing detained fighters. It also drew comparisons with previous attacks on aviation facilities in neighbouring countries.
Security agencies have since stepped up screening procedures, intelligence monitoring, and inter-agency collaboration to prevent any breach. Officials at the Airport Police Command assured that multiple layers of security are in place to detect and respond to any threat.
The Nigeria Immigration Service also confirmed heightened vigilance across its offices in the FCT, while the Nigeria Correctional Service stated that all custodial centres nationwide, especially in Abuja, are on high alert.
Security experts have urged authorities to treat intelligence reports with urgency, warning that previous lapses in response have led to major security incidents. They also cautioned that surrounding states like Niger and Kogi remain vulnerable due to ongoing insurgent activity in those regions.
Meanwhile, authorities disclosed that hundreds of former insurgents and victims of violent extremism have graduated from the Federal Government’s de-radicalisation programme under Operation Safe Corridor in Gombe State. Officials described the initiative as part of efforts to reduce terrorism and support reintegration into society, while stressing that continued community support is essential for its success.
