ABUJA—The federal government vehemently pushed back yesterday against what it described as the “dangerous and inaccurate” Christian genocide narrative spearheaded by United States President Donald Trump, saying Nigeria does not need foreign troops on its soil, but targeted support from its partners and allies.
“The Nigerian Armed Forces are highly capable, experienced and professional. Nigeria does not require foreign troops,” said Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume in a statement.
He warned that such claims were already emboldening opportunistic violent groups and aggravating insecurity across parts of the country.
According to him, “no credible international organisation has ever classified Nigeria’s security crisis as a genocide against Christians or any group.”
Akume said President Bola Tinubu’s administration considered the proliferation of the genocide narrative not only false but also “deeply harmful to national security,” stressing that it was now “fueling more violence, sharpening sectarian suspicion, and giving opportunistic extremist actors a propaganda lifeline they had long lost.”
He said Nigeria’s complex security challenge had evolved across two separate fronts over the past two decades – the ideological insurgency of Boko Haram and ISWAP in the North-East, and the economically-driven banditry ravaging the North-West.
“Across Nigeria, Christians and Muslims have been equally victimised. Boko Haram and ISWAP attack both churches and mosques, killing Muslims and Christians alike. Bandits target communities without any religious distinction,” he declared.
The SGF emphasised that while Boko Haram originated as a radical ideological sect that later drew influence from Al-Qaeda and ISIS, North-West banditry was “overwhelmingly economic deterministic,” rooted in illegal mining, cattle rustling, kidnapping-for-ransom and control of natural resources. These pressures, not religion, explain the persistence of violence in the North-West.’’
Akume also offered a historical account of how weapons proliferation from the collapse of Libya in 2011 and instability in Egypt strengthened terrorist networks across the Sahel, feeding both Boko Haram and ISWAP.
He said: “Weapons flowing through AQIM-controlled smuggling routes entered West Africa and Nigeria, strengthening Boko Haram, ISWAP and later banditry networks.’’
On claims being circulated internationally that Christians were being systematically exterminated, the SGF rejected such framing.
“Nigeria rejects any characterization of the conflict as a genocide against Christians or any group. Verified evidence shows that insurgents and criminal networks attack both churches and mosques, killing Muslims and Christians alike,’’ he said.
He warned that the amplification of false narratives abroad, particularly in the United States, had had real consequences on the ground.
“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,” he said.
The SGF underscored the capability of Nigeria’s military, saying “the Nigerian Armed Forces are highly capable, experienced and professional. Nigeria does not require foreign troops. What is needed is targeted support from partners, especially the United States, in intelligence cooperation, technology and military equipment.”
He also referenced recent mass casualty attacks, including the June 2025 killings in Yelewata, Benue State, where at least 100 people were murdered.
Akume noted that the President immediately dispatched him to the affected communities with relief materials, after which the President personally visited survivors in the hospital.
“The President directed a complete census of destruction and approved funds for reconstruction of the affected areas,” he said.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s secular character, Akume stated: “Nigeria is a secular state as guaranteed by the constitution. No state religion is adopted as a national religion and no citizen is above the constitution. Appointments made by the administration reflect the diversities of our nation, with both Christians and Muslims holding key positions, including in the Nigerian Security Council.”
He stressed that Nigeria desired deeper cooperation, not public mischaracterisation, from its allies.
“As the United States remains the largest democracy in the world, and Nigeria, the largest democracy in Africa, modeled after the American system, our two nations share a historic responsibility to work together to promote global stability, strengthen democratic values, especially in Africa, and confront extremist threats in Nigeria and other neighboring nations,” he said.
Akume also appealed for unity among Nigerians, saying “I wish to appeal to the sense of patriotism of all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religion or political persuasion.
‘’Now is the time to speak with one strong and united voice to confront a common enemy – terrorists, bandits and extremist insurgents – and completely eradicate them from our national borders.”
VANGUARD.
