The Federal Government has condemned a Houthi militia attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, warning that the incident threatens civilian safety and could worsen tensions in the Middle East.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nigeria considered the attack a “dangerous escalation” that violated Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and undermined efforts to restore peace and stability in the region.

The ministry’s spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, stated this in a statement issued on Sunday, calling on all parties to respect international law and avoid further actions that could widen the conflict.

“Nigeria reiterates its call on all parties to respect international law, exercise utmost restraint, and refrain from any further action that could escalate tensions, endanger civilian lives, damage civilian infrastructure or further undermine regional peace and security,” the statement said.

The Federal Government also expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and extended condolences to families of those killed in the attack, while wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Nigeria further stressed the need to respect Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity and protect civilian lives and critical infrastructure, including facilities essential to public safety.

The government commended Saudi authorities for their emergency response at the airport and their efforts to protect lives and maintain security across the kingdom.

It also reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for diplomatic initiatives and constructive dialogue to prevent further violence, protect civilians and restore stability in the Middle East.

According to report, the attack killed 12 people and injured hundreds, making it the deadliest strike on Saudi soil in more than a decade.

The report added that the Saudi-led coalition vowed a decisive response against Yemen’s Houthi fighters on Sunday, raising fears of further military action.

The latest attack came amid a renewed wave of Houthi strikes against Saudi Arabia after a truce in the group’s long-running conflict with Yemen’s Saudi-backed government unravelled in July.

The escalating violence has heightened concerns about a wider regional conflict, with United States President Donald Trump signalling that Washington could join military action against the Houthis.

The United States has listed Nigeria among 14 countries identified for recruiting or using child soldiers, warning that the designation could trigger restrictions on certain forms of military assistance.

The listing is contained in the 2026 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, which covers the period from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026.

According to the report, restrictions under the Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA) could affect international military education and training, foreign military financing, excess defence articles, peacekeeping operations and licences for direct commercial sales of military equipment, unless a presidential waiver is granted.

Nigeria was listed alongside Afghanistan, Burma, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Iran, Russia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Venezuela and Yemen.

The report also retained Nigeria on Tier 2 for human trafficking, a category for countries whose governments do not fully meet the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking but are making significant efforts to comply.

However, the US raised concerns about corruption and alleged official complicity in human trafficking crimes.

“The government did not report any investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of government employees allegedly complicit in trafficking crimes or provide details or other actions taken against complicit officials from previous years,” the report stated.

The report also faulted Nigeria’s efforts to protect trafficking victims, stating that 675 victims received assistance in 2025, compared with 2,058 in the previous year.

It said support services, particularly for male victims, remained limited, with only one dedicated non-governmental organisation shelter for adult male victims operating during the reporting period.

The report further stated that shelters operated by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) restricted residents’ freedom of movement, while access to certain protection services depended on victims cooperating with law enforcement proceedings.

Despite these concerns, the report acknowledged increased government efforts in investigating, prosecuting and securing convictions in human trafficking cases compared with the previous reporting period.

The United States has listed Nigeria among 14 countries identified for recruiting or using child soldiers, warning that the designation could trigger restrictions on certain forms of military assistance.

The listing is contained in the 2026 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, which covers the period from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026.

According to the report, restrictions under the Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA) could affect international military education and training, foreign military financing, excess defence articles, peacekeeping operations and licences for direct commercial sales of military equipment, unless a presidential waiver is granted.

Nigeria was listed alongside Afghanistan, Burma, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Iran, Russia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Venezuela and Yemen.

The report also retained Nigeria on Tier 2 for human trafficking, a category for countries whose governments do not fully meet the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking but are making significant efforts to comply.

However, the US raised concerns about corruption and alleged official complicity in human trafficking crimes.

“The government did not report any investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of government employees allegedly complicit in trafficking crimes or provide details or other actions taken against complicit officials from previous years,” the report stated.

The report also faulted Nigeria’s efforts to protect trafficking victims, stating that 675 victims received assistance in 2025, compared with 2,058 in the previous year.

It said support services, particularly for male victims, remained limited, with only one dedicated non-governmental organisation shelter for adult male victims operating during the reporting period.

The report further stated that shelters operated by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) restricted residents’ freedom of movement, while access to certain protection services depended on victims cooperating with law enforcement proceedings.

Despite these concerns, the report acknowledged increased government efforts in investigating, prosecuting and securing convictions in human trafficking cases compared with the previous reporting period.