Nigerian Military Uncovers Boko Haram, ISWAP Plots Ahead of Eid-el-Kabir Festive Period

The Nigerian military has announced that it has uncovered fresh plots by terrorist groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), to launch attacks during the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, particularly in parts of the North-East.

The disclosure was made by the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), which assured residents that troops and other security agencies had already intensified intelligence gathering, surveillance, and offensive operations to prevent any disruption during the Muslim festival.

According to military authorities, the planned attacks were allegedly aimed at targeting crowded public locations, worship centres, markets, and major transit routes in Borno State and surrounding areas during the Sallah festivities. The military said the intelligence was obtained through ongoing counter-terrorism operations and coordinated security monitoring across insurgency-prone communities.

Operation Hadin Kai noted that troops had already increased patrols and deployed additional personnel to strategic flashpoints to forestall any attempted infiltration by terrorists. Residents were urged to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or objects to security operatives.

The latest security alert comes amid renewed military offensives against insurgent groups operating within the Lake Chad Basin and parts of Borno State. In recent weeks, Nigerian troops, working alongside allied forces, have recorded several successes against Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters.

Just days earlier, the Nigerian military announced the rescue of 92 kidnapped persons during an operation along the Buratai-Kamuya road in Borno State after troops intercepted terrorists attempting to move captives into forest hideouts.

Military authorities also recently confirmed intensified joint counter-terrorism operations targeting ISWAP enclaves around Metele and other border communities near Chad and Niger. Security officials said several militants and commanders had been neutralised during coordinated offensives.

Nigeria’s North-East has continued to witness intermittent attacks despite sustained military campaigns against insurgents. Boko Haram and ISWAP factions have remained active in remote areas of Borno and neighbouring states, occasionally launching ambushes, abductions, and suicide attacks.

Security experts believe festive periods often heighten security concerns because insurgent groups typically seek symbolic opportunities to create fear and attract attention through coordinated attacks.

Nevertheless, the military maintained that adequate measures had been put in place to guarantee peaceful Eid-el-Kabir celebrations across the region and urged citizens not to panic but to cooperate fully with security agencies.