WASHINGTON, D.C. — A high-stakes meeting in Washington D.C. this week brought chilling warnings regarding a purported plot to unleash a “Christmas Day massacre” targeting several northern Nigerian communities, an alert the Nigerian Presidency has swiftly dismissed as “doubtful.”
The dire warning was delivered by Judd Saul, the founder of the humanitarian organisation Equipping The Persecuted, during a roundtable convened by the International Committee on Nigeria and the African Jewish Alliance on Wednesday.🔪 ‘Weaponising for a Christmas Day Massacre’Saul claimed his organisation had received “very reliable information” that terrorist groups are currently “gathering forces” and “weaponising” for coordinated attacks on Christmas Day.
He specifically named communities in four states: Riyom and Bokkos (Plateau), Kafanchan (Kaduna), and Agatu (Benue).“They are gathering forces around the Plateau and Nasarawa border, along the Nasarawa-Benue border and along the Nasarawa-Kaduna border,” Saul stated, issuing an urgent plea to both the Nigerian government and President Donald Trump to intervene immediately to prevent a “bunch of dead Christians in Nigeria.”🏛️ Presidency Questions Motive, Dismisses AlertThe dramatic alert, delivered on an international stage, was met with immediate pushback from the Nigerian Presidency.
In a swift reaction, the Presidency questioned the humanitarian group’s motive, suggesting the warning was “doubtful” and could serve only to “create unnecessary fear among Nigerians.”The Presidency’s denial casts a shadow of controversy over the claims, placing the humanitarian organisation and the government at sharp odds regarding the current threat level facing vulnerable communities.🇺🇸 US Lawmakers Attend High-Level DeliberationThe roundtable meeting, chaired by former Congressman Frank Wolf, was part of a series of deliberations focused on resolving Nigeria’s pervasive insecurity issues and addressing persistent concerns over the alleged killing of Christians in the country.
Attendance underscored the seriousness with which some US officials view the crisis. Attendees included Congressmen Riley Moore and Chris Smith, Senator James Lankford, and members of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, alongside a Nigerian delegation. The meeting signals growing international pressure on the Nigerian government to curb violence and protect its citizens ahead of the festive season.
