Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has raised concerns that recent remarks by United States President Donald Trump are unintentionally encouraging violent groups in Nigeria to intensify attacks on soft targets.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Akume said Trump’s comments have been seized upon by extremist elements seeking to align their activities with international narratives to justify renewed aggression.
Trump had, on October 31, designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” alleging widespread killings of Christians. He further warned that the U.S. could deploy military forces to Nigeria if the alleged attacks continued, saying he had ordered the Department of War to prepare for “possible action.” The U.S. president also threatened to suspend all American assistance to Nigeria should the Tinubu administration fail to address what he described as religious persecution.
Akume stressed that insurgency networks in the country had been substantially degraded and reduced to scattered banditry before Trump’s statements, adding that such comments risk reversing security gains by emboldening violent actors.
