FG IDENTIFIES FOREIGNERS AS PERPETRATORS OF TERRORISM IN NIGERIA
Read Time:2 Minute, 30 Second
By: Balogun Ibrahim
The Federal Government on Sunday reiterated that a significant number of terrorists behind the spate of killings across Nigeria are foreign nationals who gained entry through the country’s porous borders.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, made the assertion while speaking at the First Plenary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, held at St. Gabriel’s Chaplaincy, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja.
Akume acknowledged that insecurity remains a major concern for the country but stressed that the challenge is not peculiar to Nigeria.
“Insecurity is not a problem limited to Nigeria alone; it is a global challenge. Even developed nations are grappling with similar issues,” he said.
He described the spate of killings as tragic and noted that the violence predates the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Referring to security briefings, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation said several suspects arrested in connection with recent attacks were not Nigerian nationals.
“Many of those apprehended do not speak English. Their Hausa is very poor, but they speak French. Do we speak French in Nigeria? No,” he said.
While clarifying that extremist groups such as Boko Haram originated within Nigeria, Akume said many of the attackers currently operating in forests and rural communities—particularly in parts of Niger State and other affected areas—are foreign nationals.
“Most of those carrying out these killings are from outside the country. I am stating what I know to be true based on security reports,” he said.
Nigeria was recently designated a Country of Particular Concern by the United States over security and religious freedom issues, a development Akume noted has intensified international cooperation, especially with Washington.
Referring to recent drone strikes in Sokoto State, he said the Federal Government has been proactive in tackling security threats.
“It is not that we are sitting back. The United States is cooperating with Nigeria, and we are working together,” he stated.
Akume also revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to Turkey was partly aimed at acquiring additional military hardware, including drones and other advanced weaponry, to bolster Nigeria’s security framework.
“The main reason the President was in Turkey was to procure more armaments, including drones. So we are certainly not idle,” he added.
Addressing the contentious issue of reintegrating former terrorists, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation explained that efforts to reintegrate members of Boko Haram began under a previous administration but failed to gain traction and were ultimately discontinued.
“There were moves to enlist them into the military, but that proposal was strongly resisted and never implemented,” he said.
Akume expressed hope that such initiatives would not be revived without careful scrutiny, urging stakeholders—particularly religious leaders—to approach the insecurity challenge with objectivity and a comprehensive understanding of its complexities.
“You will have the opportunity to examine and debate what we have said, but I am simply relaying what is contained in the security reports available to me,” he added.
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