A humanitarian organization, Equipping The Persecuted, has raised an alarming report of a plot to target northern Nigerian communities on Christmas Day. The group claims that terrorists are planning a series of deadly attacks aimed at killing a significant number of people in the region, particularly in the Middle Belt.

In response, the Nigerian Presidency quickly questioned the credibility of the warning, suggesting that it could cause unnecessary panic among the public.

 

The founder of Equipping The Persecuted, Judd Saul, made the alarming claim during a roundtable meeting held in Washington, D.C. The event, organized by the International Committee on Nigeria and the African Jewish Alliance, was chaired by former congressman Frank Wolf. Attendees included U.S. lawmakers such as Congressmen Riley Moore, Chris Smith, Senator James Lankford, and members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, along with a Nigerian delegation.

 

Saul reported that terrorists are already regrouping in several strategic locations around the Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, and Kaduna borders. According to his statement, the attackers are preparing for an assault on Christmas Day, targeting communities in Riyom, Bokkos, Kafanchan, and Agatu.

 

“We have received reliable information that these groups are preparing to carry out a Christmas Day massacre,” said Saul. “I am urging both the Nigerian government and President Donald Trump to act swiftly to prevent another tragedy, especially against the Christian communities in these areas.”

 

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Saul’s warning was reportedly communicated to U.S. officials through Congressmen Riley Moore. A source close to the U.S. government confirmed to newsmen that the congressmen, who have visited Nigeria multiple times, are deeply involved in addressing religious violence in the country. They have reportedly classified the attackers as jihadists and terrorists.

 

Moore is expected to file a report on the matter to President Trump, according to the source. Following Saul’s statement, a closed-door meeting was held, though the details of those discussions have not been disclosed.

 

In Nigeria, a senior officer from the Department of State Services, DSS, confirmed that the agency is aware of the threat and has already taken preventive measures. “We have received intelligence on the potential attacks and are actively working to counter them.

 

A second DSS operative added that the agency has intensified its intelligence-gathering efforts nationwide, especially in the Middle Belt, where there has been a recurring pattern of attacks. “The intelligence from the U.S. NGO aligns with what we’ve seen in these areas during festive periods,” the operative said. “We are confident that the service has taken the necessary precautions.”

 

 

Source: Punch