A United States-based humanitarian organization, “Equipping the Persecuted,” has warned of planned Christmas Day attacks in some communities in Plateau State, notably in Riyom, Bokkos, and Barkin Ladi local government areas.
The non-profit organization which provides essential support and resources specifically to persecuted Christians in Nigeria and around the world, raised the alarm in a message by its founder, Judd Saul, warning that it has privileged information that there are plots by terrorists and bandits to attack rural communities in the councils and kill as many people as possible on Christmas Day.
Saul, who spoke during a roundtable meeting convened by the International Committee on Nigeria and the African Jewish Alliance held in Washington, D.C.
On Wednesday, it was reported that the terrorists had started regrouping for the planned attacks which could be reminiscent of simultaneous attacks between December 23rd and 25th, 2023, where 17 villages were invaded and over 400 people were massacred
“They are gathering forces around the Plateau and Nasarawa border, along the Nasarawa-Benue border, and along the Nasarawa-Kaduna border. They are planning to hit on Christmas Day in Riyom, Bokkos, and Barkin Ladi,” Saul said.
“We got very reliable information that they are weaponising for a Christmas Day massacre. I am imploring the Nigerian government and President Donald Trump to do something so we don’t have a bunch of dead Christians in Nigeria.”
Saul said he had already communicated the concerns to the Nigerian government through US lawmaker, Riley Moore, who led a delegation to Nigeria on a fact-finding mission over allegations of Christian genocide in the country, especially in the Middle Belt region.
“All the congressmen at the meeting have been to Nigeria many times. They’ve been involved in this matter since Bill Clinton was president.
“They classified the attackers mostly as terrorists and jihadists. I had officially notified the US through Riley, who will be filing a report to President Trump on it,” he said.
Saul’s warning is coming barely a week after Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, the Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) for Barkin Ladi LGA, also raised an alarm that bandits and terrorists have finalized plans to attack some local communities in the state.
In the warning, Rev. Dachomo had said the terrorists were donating money to buy weapons in preparation for the imminent attacks and called on youths in the state to rise up and defend their lands and people.
Global NGO warns of planned Christmas Day attacks in Plateau communities