- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal Government has expressed readiness to work with the United States of America in fight against terrorists and extremist groups.
This is coming amid the US allegation of genocidal attacks on Christians in Nigeria.
NPO Reported that the allegation pushed by the US Congress had sparked controversies which led to the inclusion of Nigeria in the list of Countries of Particular Concern.
The development had further attracted global attention following President Donald Trump’s threat to carry out military action by the US Army against Nigeria.
While the Federal Government had over time faulted the claim as well as Trump’s threat, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had however expressed the President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s readiness to work with the US and other nations.
Idris, at a Press briefing held in Abuja on Wednesday, admitted to Nigeria’s security challenges.
He however assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s commitment towards elimination the terrorists and extremists across the country.
“The government of Nigeria remains open and willing to work closely with any member of the international community, including the United States of America and other nations and partners to achieve our shared goal.
“That is the complete elimination of terrorism and violent extremists on the Nigerian soil.
“Mr. President has vowed that he will continue to work to ensure that wherever they are, all those that are making Nigerians unsafe in this country, are permanently removed from this country.
“The cooperation between Nigeria and the United States of America has already resulted in the delivery of a dozen Super Tucano aircrafts which have been of tremendous impact in the anti-insurgency fight with another dozen AH1Z Viper Attack aircraft.
“Judging of the realities of Nigeria’s true security situation by the United States of America, President Tinubu is taking the lead to resolve all areas of misunderstanding through all available diplomatic and political channels.
“Just as the Federal Government welcomes more collaboration, assistance, and partnership with all our foreign partners including the United States of America.
“Nigeria is indeed not turning away from the fact that we have these big security challenge.
“Therefore, we welcome all our partners, all our friends, wherever they may be to please come and join hands with us in the understanding of our situation and also in helping us to get rid of this menace.” He said.
Idris further highlighted the achievements of the Tinubu-led administration in the fight against insurgency since the President assumed office in May 2023.
According to the Minister, Nigeria’s security agencies have neutralized more than 13,500 terrorists through sustained operations.
He further disclosed that over 17,000 arrested suspects are currently undergoing interrogation or prosecution for various offences.
Also, more than 9,800 victims abducted by terrorist elements, including women and children, have been rescued and reintegrated.
“In the past two years, significant progress has been made in the war against terrorism across the North-West, North-East and South-East, North-Central, and other parts of our country.
“Within this period, the number of terrorism-related attacks has plummeted. In March, a report by the Global Terrorism Index indicated that terrorist attacks were at their lowest in over a decade in Nigeria.
“In the past eight months, the Nigerian military neutralized over 592 terrorists in Borno State alone. Over 13,500 terrorists and armed criminals have been neutralised. More than 17,000 arrests made. Over 11,200 hostages freed.
“More importantly, over 124,000 insurgents and their families surrendered, handing over more than 11,000 weapons.
“In the North-West, especially Zamfara and Kaduna, 11,250 hostages have been freed, and some of the terror leaders —Ali Kachala, Boderi, Halilu Sububu — have been neutralized. In August, the military intercepted and killed, in one fell swoop, over 400 armed bandits who had converged to attack a village in Zamfara.
“In the South-East, terror attacks have been reduced by almost 80% through the joint effort of our security agencies.
“In the North-Central, many of these criminal elements have been neutralized, and many arrests have been made.
“The government is ratcheting up effort to ensure more robust security in the North-Central as new threats emerge.” He said.
Idris however noted that the terrorists operation is devoid of ethnicity or religious profiling, stressing that the insurgents are blind to religion or ethnic group when carrying out their attacks.
“It is important to restate that the menace of terrorism in Nigeria does not exclusively target any religious or ethnic group.
“As in many parts of the world, extremism is mindless, blind to religion, tribe, or class. It is a war against all peace-loving Nigerians and against the unity and progress of our great nation.
“Therefore, any narrative suggesting that the Nigerian State is failing to take action against religious attacks is based on misinformation or faulty data.
“Several leading personnel of the very dedicated Armed Forces of Nigeria and the country’s intelligence agencies are Christians, working and succeeding alongside their Muslim colleagues in the fight against extremists and criminals waging war against our country and values.” He said
Meanwhile, the Minister noted that Nigeria’s security challenge cannot be fully understood without acknowledging the volatile security situation in the Sahel region.
This, according to him, include complicating factors such as the collapse of Libya over a decade ago, flooding the region with terrorist elements, extremist groups, and illegal weapons.
Idris held that the regional dimension underscores why Nigeria continues to champion greater cooperation within Economic Community of West African State’s (ECOWAS), the African Union, and international partners – including the United States – to stabilise the Sahel and cut off the transnational lifelines of terrorism.