Nigerian Security Agencies Ramp Up Measures Amid Suspected Insurgent Plot
Security agencies have increased surveillance and reinforced key facilities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) following intelligence reports of a suspected insurgent attack. The Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, and Nigerian Correctional Service confirmed on Thursday that proactive measures have been taken to secure airports and custodial centres.
The heightened alert follows a warning from the Nigeria Customs Service about planned attacks by insurgent groups, with terrorists reportedly targeting Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Kuje Custodial Centre, and a detention facility in Niger State.
A memo dated April 13, 2026, signed by Timi Bomodi, Deputy Comptroller General of Enforcement, Inspection, and Investigation, outlined that groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, Ansaru, and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen may be involved. It further revealed that ISWAP fighters have infiltrated the FCT to prepare for attacks aimed at freeing detained insurgents.
The potential plot mirrors past attacks in neighboring Niger Republic and previous incidents in Nigeria, such as the 2022 Kuje prison break. In October 2022, terrorists attempted to breach the Wawa Cantonment in Niger State in a failed bid to free detained insurgents.
Security officials have assured the public that measures are in place to prevent similar attacks. The spokesperson for the airport police command, Adeola Muhammed, stated that security at the airport has been strengthened with additional layers of screening and intelligence-sharing mechanisms to detect threats.
The Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigerian Correctional Service have also heightened vigilance at their respective facilities, with Immigration Service spokesperson Akinsola Akinlabi expressing confidence in the response to the threat. Similarly, Nigerian Correctional Service spokesperson Jane Osuji assured the public that custodial centers are on high alert.
Experts have urged authorities to take the intelligence seriously, stressing the need for a broader security focus beyond just the FCT, as neighboring states like Niger and Kogi remain vulnerable.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government’s de-radicalization programme, Operation Safe Corridor, recently graduated 744 former insurgents and victims of violent extremism. The Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, emphasized that this initiative is a strategic move to reduce violence and promote long-term stability, not a reward for insurgents.
