Nigeria’s federal government has forcefully rejected what it calls the “dangerous, inaccurate and deeply irresponsible” narrative being promoted by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently suggested that Christians in Nigeria are facing a genocide. The claim, according to Abuja, is not only false but already inflaming insecurity across the country.
In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said Nigeria does not need foreign boots on its soil — especially not U.S. troops — and warned that Trump’s comments were giving extremist groups the exact propaganda lifeline they had been losing.
“The Nigerian Armed Forces are highly capable, experienced and professional. Nigeria does not require foreign troops,” Akume said.
FG: Trump’s Statement Is Empowering Terrorists
Akume accused Trump’s rhetoric of emboldening violent non-state actors in the North-East and North-West, saying the narrative is already being weaponised by opportunistic groups seeking global attention.
“No credible international organisation has ever classified Nigeria’s security crisis as a genocide against Christians or any group,” he stressed.
According to him, pushing the genocide claim has revived extremist messaging, sharpened sectarian suspicion, and aggravated security tensions in multiple regions.
FG Breaks Down the Real Roots of Nigeria’s Insecurity
Akume offered a detailed breakdown of Nigeria’s 20-year security challenge:
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Boko Haram/ISWAP — ideological insurgency influenced by Al-Qaeda and ISIS
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North-West Banditry — driven by economics, illegal mining, cattle rustling, ransom kidnapping, and resource control
He insisted that both Christians and Muslims have been victims, noting that terrorists routinely attack churches and mosques alike.
“Bandits target communities without any religious distinction,” he maintained.
He added that much of the firepower used by insurgents came from post-Gaddafi Libya, which unleashed a wave of arms trafficking across the Sahel between 2011 and 2014.
‘Nigeria Is a Secular State — Stop Pushing a Religious War Narrative’
To counter Trump’s framing, Akume emphasized that Nigeria remains a secular nation, and that Tinubu’s appointments reflect religious diversity, including within the National Security Council.
He warned that international mischaracterisations — especially from influential voices like Trump — carry real, deadly consequences:
“Before these statements, insurgency structures had been significantly degraded… now extremist actors are exploiting this narrative to attack soft targets.”
FG Insists on Support, Not Soldiers
Instead of foreign troops, the Tinubu administration says what Nigeria needs is:
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Advanced technology
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Intelligence sharing
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Modern equipment
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Improved counter-terror cooperation
Akume described calls for foreign military deployment as “unnecessary and counterproductive.”
Context: A Bloody Month and a Sensitive Moment
The federal government’s pushback comes amid a series of high-profile attacks, including:
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The Yelewata massacre in Benue, with at least 100 killed
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The abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi
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The killing of a vice-principal during the same attack
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Fresh attacks in Plateau and Kaduna
Akume said President Tinubu has visited victims, released funds for reconstruction, and ordered a comprehensive assessment of affected communities.
A Call to Unity at a Time of Global Scrutiny
Akume urged Nigerians to resist divisive foreign narratives and remain united in confronting the threats of terrorism and banditry.
“Now is the time to speak with one strong and united voice to confront a common enemy.”
But analysts say the SGF’s statement reflects a deeper anxiety within Abuja: the fear that the global conversation is shifting — and may soon shape international diplomacy, sanctions, and military partnerships.
For now, the federal government is fighting on two fronts:
the insurgents at home, and the narrative war abroad.