The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has asserted that recent comments made by former United States President Donald Trump have sparked a dangerous resurgence of attacks by violent extremist groups in Nigeria.
In a forceful statement released on Wednesday, Akume claimed that while Nigerian forces had previously weakened insurgent networks, Mr Trump’s remarks are now being exploited as a recruitment and propaganda tool.
The diplomatic controversy arose from a declaration made by Mr Trump on October 31, in which he branded Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” due to what he described as an ongoing “Christian genocide.” He threatened to deploy American troops and suspend all US assistance if the Nigerian government under President Bola Tinubu failed to put an end to the alleged persecution.
Addressing the security situation, Akume noted that the former US president’s comments have had unintended consequences on the ground.
“Recent statements from the United States have inadvertently empowered opportunistic violent groups seeking to exploit international narratives and make bold statements by targeting vulnerable sites,” the SGF’s statement read.
He outlined the progress achieved prior to these comments, stating, “Before these statements, insurgent structures had been significantly diminished and reduced to isolated banditry. This resurgence highlights the