The Federal Government, through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has pointedly blamed the recent surge in attacks by terrorists and bandits across Nigeria on pronouncements originating from the United States, particularly from President Donald Trump and other senior officials of his administration.
Speaking at a media chat in Abuja, Senator Akume asserted that the redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), coupled with subsequent threats of military action against the country, has inadvertently provoked violent groups. These groups, he argued, have been emboldened to wreak more havoc, buoyed by international narratives that elevate their activities.
Akume strongly claimed that the operational structures of insurgency in Nigeria had been “significantly degraded” before this latest wave of commentary from Washington began. He noted that such statements, while perhaps well-intentioned, carried the unintended and dangerous effect of boosting the morale and confidence of extremist organizations.
What Nigeria urgently needs from global partners, especially the United States, at this critical time is genuine collaboration—through intelligence sharing, technology transfer, and equipment provision—not public labels that seriously distort the country’s complex security realities.
Dismissing the Genocide Narrative
The former Governor of Benue State staunchly dismissed the persistent allegation that a “Christian Genocide” is currently underway in Nigeria. He described the narrative as both inaccurate and dangerous, pointing out that no credible international organization has ever classified the current security crisis in Nigeria as genocide against any single religious or ethnic group.
He stressed that the current portrayal of the crisis as a ‘genocide against Christians’ serves only to fuel religious tension, embolden extremist and criminal factions seeking to exploit sectarian divides, and create diplomatic friction. This, he added, gravely undermines Nigeria’s longstanding efforts to build constructive international security partnerships based on mutual understanding.
According to the SGF, both the Boko Haram and ISWAP groups have historically attacked both churches and mosques, killing adherents of Christian, Muslim, and traditional faiths alike. Furthermore, the bandits operating predominantly in the North-West region are fundamentally a criminal enterprise driven by economic motivations, rather than sectarian or religious targeting.
Insurgency Traced to Foreign Instability
Senator Akume provided a concise background on the insurgency, tracing the origins of Boko Haram to ideological currents and the radicalisation of members under Mohammed Yusuf. His death at the hands of security operatives triggered the initial violence in Borno State. The group later morphed into the Islamic State West Africa Provinces (ISWAP) after pledging allegiance to ISIS in 2015 under Abubakar Shekau.
The SGF highlighted that the insurgency gained significant potency following the collapse of the Gaddafi regime in Libya and the widespread instability that gripped Egypt. These regional crises effectively opened massive arms trafficking corridors for extremist groups. Small arms and light weapons began to flow through Al-Qaeda-linked routes (AQIM) into the Sahel and Nigeria, massively boosting the operational capacities of Boko Haram, ISWAP, and eventually, the armed banditry networks.
Senator Akume reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic relations with the United States, insisting the partnership must be built on the foundation of mutual respect, shared democratic values, and a joint responsibility to enhance regional and global stability.
He closed with a powerful appeal to all Nigerians, regardless of political, ethnic, or religious divides, to unite against violent extremism: “Now is the time to speak with one strong and united voice to confront a common enemy and eradicate terrorists, bandits and insurgents from our national borders.”
