…says Nigeria is committed to deepening diplomatic ties based on mutual respect
…blames US pronouncement for emboldening already-degraded violent extremists
…appeals for partnership and support to protect innocent citizens
George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), on Wednesday rejected the characterisation of the current insecurity as “genocide against Christians,” appealing to the global community to support Nigeria in deepening diplomatic and strategic partnerships based on mutual respect and reciprocity.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on the designation of Nigeria as “a country of particular concern” by former United States President Donald Trump, Akume described the misrepresentation of Nigeria’s security crisis as “genocide against Christians” as capable of “fueling dangerous religious tensions, emboldening extremist and criminal factions seeking to exploit sectarian narratives, creating diplomatic frictions based on inaccurate interpretations, and undermining Nigeria’s longstanding efforts to build constructive international security partnerships.”
He lamented that recent pronouncements from the United States “have inadvertently emboldened opportunistic violent groups seeking to exploit international narratives and make bold statements by attacking soft targets.
“Before these statements, insurgency structures had been significantly degraded and reduced to isolated banditry. This resurgence underscores the vital need for collaboration—not public labeling—between Nigeria and the United States.”
Akume traced Nigeria’s contemporary security challenge, as evolving across two major fronts.
He revealed that the “North-East Ideological Insurgency (2002–present), began as a local extremist movement but quickly drewmatic ties, ideological inspiration and tactical guidance from global terrorism, propagated by Al-Qaeda, later transforming through ISIS influence into Boko Haram and ISWAP.”
On the other hand, the North-West Criminal Banditry (2018–present), he said is “driven overwhelmingly by economic incentives, including illegal mining, cattle rustling, kidnapping-for-ransom, extortion, and territorial control.”
“While opportunistic linkages exist with terrorist smuggling networks in the Sahel, the motivation remains primarily economic deterministic rather than religious.”
He stated that both Christians and Muslims have been equally victimised, adding that “No credible international organisation has ever classified the crisis as a genocide against Christians or any group.”
On the issue of weapon prolifiration, Akume stated that theinsecurity faced by Nigeria today, cannot be separated from the destabilisation that followed the 2011 Libya and Egypt uprisings, which helped to increase weapon supplies to the terrorists.
According to him, ” the collapse of the Libyan state allowed Al-Qaeda-aligned traffickers to loot and disperse heavy weapons across the Sahel.
“Egypt’s instability further opened corridors for extremist ideologies and foreign fighters’ influence, with “Weapons flowing through AQIM-controlled smuggling routes entered West Africa and Nigeria, strengthening Boko Haram, ISWAP and later banditry networks”
He however blamed federal government’s slow response to the absence of proper legal and instiutional framework, prior to 2010.
“Nigeria lacked a legal and institutional framework to combat terrorism and transnational organised crime. The 1st October 2010 Independence Day bombing in Abuja, masterminded by Henry Okah, exposed this vulnerability.
” In response, the Federal Government of Nigeria, among other legislation, enacted the Terrorism Prevention Act (2011) as amended (2013), which empowered security and law enforcement agencies to track and prosecute terrorism financing, enhanced intelligence cooperation, and established Nigeria’s modern counter-terrorism architecture.
“Boko Haram, founded in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf, the group radicalised after the 2009 uprising and Yusuf’s death. Between 2010 and 2014 under Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram carried out mass killings, suicide bombings, attacks on churches and mosques, the 2011 UN Building bombing in Abuja, and the 2014 Chibok girls abduction.”
Speaking further on the designation of the crisis as genocide against Christians, Akume stressed that Boko Haram/ISWAP attack both churches and mosques, killing Muslims and Christians alike.
“Bandits target all communities without religious distinction, Victims include Christians, Muslims, and traditionalists, confirming that the drivers are economic and ideological, not religious extermination”
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Akume while noting that “Nigeria rejects any characterization of the conflict as a genocide against Christians or any group, added that ” verified evidence shows that insurgents and criminal networks attack both churches and mosques, killing Muslims and Christians alike.
“The Government remains committed to protecting all citizens and strengthening cooperation with international partners—especially the United States—to dismantle extremist and criminal networks.
“Nigeria is a secular state as guaranteed by various provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended. No state religion is adopted as a national religion and no citizen of Nigeria is above the Nigerian constitution.
“The appointment made by the present administration reflects the diversities of our nation and both Christians and Muslims and members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) holding key position in equal proportion including the Nigerian security council, the body that deals with all security challenges in Nigeria.”
He further appealed to the global community to help Nigeria, by partnering with the country to terminate terrorists from the land.
