Army dismisses Boko Haram attack alert as fake

The Nigerian Army has dismissed as fake and unverified a purported intelligence alert warning of planned Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks on schools, churches, mosques, NYSC orientation camps and other public institutions across the country.

Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the document circulating on social media and other platforms did not emanate from the Nigerian Army and was apparently designed to create fear and tension among members of the public.

Anele said the Army was aware of the circulation and had heightened vigilance across its formations and commands to ensure that no successful attack was carried out against vulnerable facilities.

She described the purported intelligence as speculation, stressing that the document should not be treated as an official Army security alert.

The response followed the circulation of a document purportedly signed by one A.M. Sodiq, which claimed that Boko Haram was mobilising fighters and resources for coordinated attacks across the North-East, North-West, North-Central and parts of the South-West.

The purported memo listed Catholic and Protestant churches, primary and secondary schools, NYSC orientation camps and other vulnerable locations as possible targets, while alleging that suspected ISWAP operatives had commenced surveillance of selected targets with the assistance of local collaborators.

It further claimed that the alleged attacks could coincide with the resumption of the 2026/2027 academic session and referenced purported movements of armed fighters from Katsina through Kaduna towards Plateau State.

However, the Nigerian Army has disowned the document, saying the alert did not originate from the institution.

An officer attached to the 2nd Division Nigerian Army, according to the statement, also expressed doubts about the authenticity of the circulating message, describing it as one of the messages capable of creating “palpable fear” among the public.

The Army nevertheless assured Nigerians that security formations remained on heightened alert and were taking necessary measures to protect schools, places of worship and other vulnerable public facilities.