Nigeria’s security forces have been placed on high alert following intelligence that sleeper cells linked to ISWAP and Boko Haram are planning coordinated attacks on key infrastructure in Abuja and parts of Niger State.
What intelligence reveals
According to a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the planned targets include the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and a prison facility in Abuja, as well as a military detention centre in neighbouring Niger State.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) warned that the threat is credible, prompting heightened vigilance across security agencies.
Planned targets and strategy
Authorities say the suspected terrorists aim to attack strategic locations and free detained fighters.
“Their intention is to release detained terrorists and inflict significant damage on critical aviation infrastructure,” the memo stated.
Security analysts also noted a worrying pattern in the planned attacks.
“An analysis of the report reveals a concerning correlation between the potential targeting of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja and recent large-scale attacks on aviation facilities in Niger Republic,” the report added.
Link to Niger attacks
The alert follows a similar incident in January in Niamey, Niger Republic, where terrorists attacked an air force base, injuring four soldiers and damaging an aircraft.
Experts believe the latest plot may be an attempt to replicate those attacks within Nigeria.
“This suggests a possible intent by terrorists to replicate the attack patterns within Nigeria,” the report noted.
Security concerns deepen
Nigeria has continued to battle multiple security threats in recent years, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry, and mass kidnappings.
Data from the Global Terrorism Index released on March 19, 2026, shows the country ranked fourth globally, with a 46 per cent rise in terrorism-related deaths in 2025.
US advisory and FG response
The development comes days after the United States issued a travel advisory authorising non-essential embassy staff and their families to leave Abuja over security concerns.
However, the Federal Government dismissed the move as routine.
Officials described the advisory as a “precautionary measure based on internal protocols,” insisting there is no cause for panic.