The Federal Government on Wednesday said recent comments by United States President Donald Trump were helping to fuel renewed terror attacks in Nigeria, including the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the attack on worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said Trump’s posts claiming a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria and threatening to send US troops had encouraged violent groups trying to gain attention.
Akume said, “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.”
He explained that before Trump’s posts, insurgent networks had weakened and banditry had become isolated attacks.
“This resurgence underscores the vital need for collaboration, not public labelling, between Nigeria and the United States,” he said.
Trump had between October 30 and November 1 posted that Nigeria should be classified as a “Country of Particular Concern” and warned that he might deploy American forces if alleged killings of Christians continued. He also ordered the so-called “Department of War” to prepare for possible action.
Akume stressed that Nigeria does not need foreign troops, noting that the Armed Forces had reclaimed territories and degraded Boko Haram and ISWAP.
He said, “Nigeria does not require foreign troops. What is needed is targeted support from partners, especially the United States, in intelligence cooperation, technology and military equipment.”
Akume rejected claims of a Christian genocide, saying the evidence showed that insurgents had attacked both churches and mosques.
“Verified evidence shows that insurgents and criminal networks attack both churches and mosques, killing Muslims and Christians alike,” he said.
The Kebbi and Kwara attacks have drawn anger across the country.
In Kebbi, bandits stormed Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, on Monday, killing the Vice Principal, Hassan Makuku, and abducting at least 24 schoolgirls. Two girls, Salma and Hauwa’u Liman, later escaped and reunited with their families.
In Kwara, gunmen attacked Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, Eruku, during a live-streamed service on Tuesday night. At least two people were killed and about 35 worshippers abducted.
A video from the attack showed worshippers running for safety as gunmen fired into the hall.
The attack sparked protests. By Wednesday afternoon, angry youths blocked the Ilorin–Kabba expressway, accusing security agencies of abandoning the community during the assault.
Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq visited Eruku and said he had spoken with top military and police authorities to establish a Forward Operating Base and a Mobile Police Squadron in the area.
He said, “It is indeed unfortunate what happened yesterday despite all the effort we have been making. The President had to cancel his trip to the G20 because of this incident and that of Kebbi State.”
Some residents accused the police of failing to respond during the attack. Youth leader Shola Peters said, “Instead of joining us to pursue the bandits, they stopped us. The Inspector-General needs to probe the Eruku division.”
The resident pastor of the church, Lawrence Bamidele, said the congregation was holding a thanksgiving service for 18 earlier kidnapped residents who had just been freed.
He said, “We were thanking God for their safe return, not knowing that danger was lurking around.”
The Jama’atu Nasril Islam condemned the Kebbi abductions, saying it was “one tragedy too many,” and questioned the lack of security around boarding schools despite repeated mass kidnappings over the years.
The Islamic body said, “Ordinarily and ethically, the school abduction should have been thwarted. Expectedly, security surveillance ought to have been adequately provided.”
The African Democratic Congress warned that the Christian genocide narrative was becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy due to poor handling of insecurity.
Its spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, said, “The Christian genocide narrative, which we dismissed when it was first proposed, is gradually becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy due to the failure of the government to conduct an honest appraisal of the problem.”
Former governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso condemned the killings and kidnappings, calling them a sign of serious intelligence failure.
He said, “This shocking intelligence and operational failure demands an immediate and thorough investigation.”
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said the Federal Government lacked the political will to curb insecurity.
He said, “This failure to act decisively has sadly emboldened terrorists and eroded public trust.”
The Nigeria Labour Congress also expressed sadness, saying the Kebbi attack showed something “sinister” beyond ordinary banditry.
Its president, Joe Ajaero, said, “That bandits struck with relative ease in spite of these measures points to something more worrying.”
