The Nigerian Army has dismissed as fake and unverified a purported intelligence alert warning of planned attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) 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 originate from the Nigerian Army.
According to Anele, the document appeared to have been designed to create fear and tension among members of the public.
She said the Army was aware of the circulation and had heightened vigilance across its formations and commands to prevent any successful attack on vulnerable facilities.
Anele described the purported intelligence alert as speculation and urged members of the public not to treat it as an official security warning from the Nigerian Army.
The Army’s response followed the circulation of a document purportedly signed by one A.M. Sodiq. The document claimed that Boko Haram was mobilising fighters and resources for coordinated attacks across parts of the North-East, North-West, North-Central and South-West.
It listed Catholic and Protestant churches, primary and secondary schools, NYSC orientation camps and other public facilities as possible targets.
The purported memo also alleged that suspected ISWAP operatives had begun surveillance of selected locations 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 referred to purported movements of armed fighters from Katsina through Kaduna towards Plateau State.
However, the Nigerian Army has firmly disowned the document, stating that it did not emanate from the institution.
An officer attached to the 2nd Division Nigerian Army also reportedly questioned the authenticity of the circulating message, describing it as one of the messages capable of creating “palpable fear” among members of the public.
Despite dismissing the alert, the Army 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.
The Army urged members of the public to rely on verified information from official security channels and avoid spreading unverified security alerts.
