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A United States-based humanitarian organization, Equipping The Persecuted, has sounded a grave alarm over intelligence suggesting that terrorists are planning coordinated attacks on Christian communities in parts of Benue, Plateau, and Nasarawa states on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025. The warning, issued by the group’s founder Judd Saul during a high-level roundtable in Washington DC on December 11, highlights alleged mobilizations along key border areas, including the Plateau-Nasarawa, Nasarawa-Benue, and Nasarawa-Kaduna axes.
Saul specifically named vulnerable areas such as Riyom and Bokkos in Plateau State, Agatu in Benue State, and Kafanchan in southern Kaduna, describing the plot as a potential “Christmas massacre” aimed at rural farming communities that have already suffered repeated violence throughout 2025. The organization, which supports persecuted Christians in Nigeria with rapid-response aid, claims to have received reliable information about armed groups gathering forces and weapons in preparation for strikes designed to maximize casualties during the festive period.
These regions have endured a brutal year of attacks attributed to Fulani militants and other armed groups, with hundreds killed in incidents often occurring around holidays—a pattern seen in the devastating 2023 Christmas Eve massacres in Plateau that claimed nearly 200 lives. Advocacy groups note that Nigeria remains one of the deadliest places for Christians globally, with thousands murdered in recent years amid ongoing herder-farmer conflicts and alleged jihadist activities.
In a swift response on December 13, the Presidency dismissed the alert as questionable, suggesting it could unnecessarily heighten fear and insecurity among Nigerians ahead of the holidays. Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, emphasized that security agencies are fully mobilized and capable of thwarting any threats, assuring citizens of a peaceful Yuletide season while urging vigilance against alarming reports from external sources.
Some security sources have reportedly acknowledged the intelligence, with preventive measures said to be underway, though no official confirmation of heightened alerts has been issued by the Nigerian military or police. Communities in the affected states remain on edge, with residents and local leaders calling for reinforced patrols and proactive interventions to avert tragedy.
As Christmas approaches, this conflicting narrative underscores the fragile security landscape in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where ethnic, religious, and resource tensions continue to fuel violence. While the government projects confidence in its defenses, the NGO’s plea for urgent action from both Nigerian authorities and international partners highlights the persistent risks faced by vulnerable populations seeking to celebrate in peace.
