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•Says killings territorial occupation not genocide
From Adetutu Folasade-Koyi and Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has 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.
The SGF equally lamented that the pronouncements by the United States in which it tagged Nigeria a country of particular concern has “inadvertently emboldened opportunistic violent groups seeking to exploit international narratives and make bold statements by attacking soft targets.”
He said: “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,” he said.
Speaking to Editors in Abuja yesterday, the former governor of Benue State emphasised that North-West banditry is economic deterministic and not religious factors.
Akume said 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.
“The North-West banditry is purely economic deterministic 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 religious, explain the persistence of violence in the North-West,” he said.
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.
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“Bandits target all communities without religious distinction. Victims include Christians, Muslims, and traditionalists, confirming that the drivers are economic and ideological, not religious extermination.
“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.
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 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 positions in equal proportion including the Nigerian security council, the body that deals with all security challenges in Nigeria.”
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.
He said government will also 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, 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.
“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 extremists insurgents, and completely eradicate them from our national borders,” he said.
