Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has cautioned that pronouncements by the United States administration and other groups describing Nigeria’s insecurity as genocide against Christians are emboldening violent factions.
Akume said such narratives were being exploited by extremists to attack soft targets, while also creating diplomatic friction and undermining Nigeria’s efforts to build constructive partnerships.
Briefing the press in Abuja on Wednesday, Akume addressed insurgency, banditry, illegal mining, and the US position that killings in Nigeria amounted to Christian genocide.
He insisted that Christians and Muslims had both been victimized, and no credible international body had ever classified the violence as genocide against Christians or any group.
“The current misrepresentation of the crisis as genocide against Christians fuels dangerous religious tensions, emboldens extremist and criminal factions seeking to exploit sectarian narratives, creates diplomatic frictions based on inaccurate interpretations and undermines Nigeria’s longstanding efforts to build constructive international security partnerships,” Akume said.
He explained that Boko Haram and ISWAP had attacked both churches and mosques, exterminating Muslims and Christians alike, while bandits targeted communities indiscriminately.
Akume noted that before the American statements, insurgency structures had been significantly degraded and reduced to isolated banditry. He warned that the resurgence underscored the need for collaboration, not public vilification, between Nigeria and the US.
“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.
Call for Partnership, Not Foreign Troops
The SGF stressed that Nigeria did not require foreign troops. Instead, he said the country needed targeted support from partners, especially the United States, in intelligence cooperation, technology, and military equipment for advanced engagement against insurgents.
“The government remains committed to protecting all citizens and strengthening cooperation with international partners, especially the United States, to dismantle extremist and criminal networks,” Akume said.
He reminded that Nigeria is a secular state as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution. “No state religion is adopted as a national religion and no citizen of Nigeria is above the Nigerian constitution,” he said.
Akume pointed to appointments made by the Tinubu administration, saying they reflect Nigeria’s diversity.
“Both Christians and Muslims are members of the Federal Executive Council holding key positions in equal proportion, including the Nigerian Security Council, the body that deals with all security challenges in Nigeria,” he explained.
Roots of Insecurity
Akume traced Nigeria’s insecurity to destabilization following the 2011 uprisings in Libya and Egypt. He said the collapse of Libya allowed Al‑Qaeda‑aligned traffickers to loot and disperse heavy weapons across the Sahel.
He added that Egypt’s instability opened corridors for extremist ideologies and foreign fighters. Weapons flowing through AQIM‑controlled smuggling routes entered West Africa and Nigeria, strengthening Boko Haram, ISWAP, and later banditry networks.
On solutions, Akume said the federal government would strengthen nationwide security operations, deepen intelligence‑sharing with the US and allies, and intensify follow‑the‑money operations targeting illegal mining, trafficking, and other transnational crimes.
He added that Nigeria would enhance rural security, border surveillance, and governance while upholding strict human‑rights safeguards.
“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,” Akume said.
“Nigeria is committed to deepening our diplomatic ties and strategic partnership based on mutual respect and reciprocity,” he concluded.
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