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Rejects characterisation of conflict targeted against Christians
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From Adetutu Folasade-Koyi and Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has officially faulted the designation of the worrisome insecurity in the country as genocide against Christians.
Akume argued that apart from the fact that no credible international institution has designated the crisis as genocide against Christians, victims – including Christians, Muslims and traditionalists – have confirmed that the drivers are economic and ideological, not religious extermination.
Speaking to the Editors in Abuja on Wednesday, the former Governor of Benue State explicitly emphasised that North-West banditry is purely economically determined, and not driven by religious factors.
On the official position of the Federal Government, Akume emphatically said that the Federal Government rejects any characterisation of the conflict as a genocide against Christians or any group, noting that verified evidence showed that insurgents and criminal networks attack both churches and mosques, killing Muslims and Christians alike.
Enumerating some of the root causes of the problems, Senator Akume noted, “The North West banditry is purely economically determined, and not religious factors, including: competition for grazing routes, water resources and farmlands exacerbated by desertification; cattle rustling linked to cross-border livestock markets along Al-Qaeda-influenced smuggling routes; illegal mining of gold and other minerals in Benue, Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara States, funding arms purchases; kidnapping-for-ransom, now an organised industry; extortion and illegal taxation of rural communities; control of fertile agricultural land and transport corridors. These pressures, not religion, explain the persistence of violence in the North-West,” he said.
While clarifying the claims of Christian genocide, he said: “No credible international institution has designated the crisis as genocide against Christians. 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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“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,” he argued.
The SGF equally lamented the impact of recent pronouncements from the United States, noting that: “It has 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 labelling – between Nigeria and the United States,” he said.
Stating the official position of the Federal Government, Akume said: “Nigeria rejects any characterisation 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.
“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 appointments made by the present administration reflect the diversities of our nation and both Christians and Muslims are members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) holding key positions positions in equal proportion, including the Nigerian Security Council, the body that deals with all security challenges in Nigeria,” he said.
On the way forward he called for collaboration, stressing that: “To sustainably address the security challenges in Nigeria, the Federal Government will strengthen nationwide security operations, deepen intelligence-sharing with the United States and allies; intensify follow-the-money operations targeting illegal mining, trafficking and all other forms of transnational crimes in Nigeria; enhance rural security, border surveillance and governance; uphold strict human-rights safeguards. As the United States remains the largest democracy in the world, and Nigeria the largest democracy in Africa, modelled 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 neighbouring nations.
“Nigeria is committed to deepening our diplomatic ties and strategic partnership based on mutual respect and reciprocity. I wish to appeal to the sense of patriotism of all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion or political persuasions that now is the time to speak with one strong and united voice to confront a common enemy – the terrorists, bandits and extremist insurgents – and completely eradicate them from our national borders,” he said.
