The Federal Government has blamed the recent surge in terror attacks, including the Kebbi schoolgirls’ abduction and the Eruku church shooting in Kwara, on statements made by United States officials.
George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said Wednesday that remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump stating a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria and suggesting possible American troop deployment may have “inadvertently emboldened opportunistic violent groups.”
Akume argued that these comments created a narrative that extremist elements quickly exploited, triggering renewed attacks on soft targets across the country.
He said insurgent groups had been significantly weakened and reduced mainly to scattered banditry before the statements gained widespread attention.
“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,” Akume said.
He stressed that the Nigerian government remains committed to restoring security nationwide, while calling on international partners to exercise caution in their public statements to avoid fueling tensions.
“Before these statements, insurgency structures had been significantly degraded and reduced to isolated banditry.
This resurgence underscores the need for collaboration, not public labelling, between Nigeria and the United States,” he added.
Trump recently designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” citing claims of Christian genocide, a classification Nigerian officials have strongly rejected.
