Nigerian Government Responds to US “Country of Particular Concern” Designation
The Nigerian government, through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has firmly stated that the US government’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged religious freedom violations is based on misinformation or faulty data.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister acknowledged the anxiety created by the designation and the reported threats of military invasion, but affirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s determination to end the security challenges facing the nation.
Minister Idris acknowledged the long-standing security challenges, which date back to the 2009 rise of Boko Haram. He strongly countered the genocide allegations by stressing that the menace of terrorism in Nigeria is non-sectarian, impacting “Christians and Muslims alike.”
He stated, “It is important to restate that the menace of terrorism in Nigeria does not exclusively target any religious or ethnic group… It is a war against all peace-loving Nigerians.” As evidence that the Nigerian State is actively fighting for all citizens, he cited the presence of Christians in leading positions within the Armed Forces and intelligence agencies, who work alongside their Muslim colleagues, concluding that any narrative suggesting the Nigerian State is failing to act against religious attacks is based on misinformation.
To demonstrate the government’s decisive action, the Minister provided concrete statistics detailing security successes achieved since May 2023. These numbers include the neutralization of more than 13,500 terrorists through sustained operations, the arrest of over 17,000 suspects who are now undergoing interrogation or prosecution, and the rescue and reintegration of more than 9,800 victims abducted by terrorist elements, including women and children.
Idris explained that Nigeria’s security challenge cannot be fully understood without acknowledging two critical external and internal factors.
Externally, he pointed to the unstable security situation in the Sahel region, which was exacerbated by the collapse of Libya over a decade ago, flooding the region with terrorist elements and illegal weapons. The Minister noted that this regional dimension underscores Nigeria’s push for greater cooperation within ECOWAS, the African Union, and international partners like the United States. Internally, he identified the conflict in the North-Central (Plateau and Benue State) as having a socio-economic dimension, worsened by age-old farmers-herders violent clashes, a problem intensified by climate change and desertification.
