SGF George Akume Alleges Trump’s Comments on Nigeria’s Violence Have Fuelled Renewed Attacks by Emboldened Terror Groups

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, today, Wednesday, November 19, 2025, issued a sharp rebuke to external interference in Nigeria’s security challenges, specifically accusing President Donald Trump of unnecessarily “fuelling renewed attacks” by violent groups across the country.

The SGF’s statement is the most direct condemnation yet from a top government official concerning the highly controversial comments made by Trump since early November, where he threatened US military action against Nigeria over what he termed “Christian Genocide” and the government’s alleged failure to protect Christians.

Akume asserted that the one-sided, highly politicized narratives coming from outside Nigeria serve as a propaganda tool that “unwarrantedly legitimizes and emboldens” terrorists and bandits to continue their destabilization efforts.

“The Federal Government is engaged in a protracted war against terror and banditry,” Akume stated. “When influential international figures make statements suggesting that violence only affects one religion, they lend credence to the divisive narrative of these non-state actors, thereby complicating our counter-terrorism operations and leading to renewed hostility.”

Nigeria Rejects Genocide Narrative

The SGF reiterated the government’s firm position, consistent with the President’s earlier reaction, that the ongoing violence, particularly in the North Central and Northwest, is driven by a complex mix of economic banditry, resource conflict, and terrorism, and not exclusively religious persecution. He noted that both Muslim and Christian communities have suffered immense casualties.

Akume urged the international community to recognize Nigeria’s constitutional guarantee of religious freedom and to exercise utmost caution and due diligence before making pronouncements that can be leveraged by criminal elements for recruitment and justification. The government, he concluded, welcomes genuine partnership but rejects any rhetoric that threatens Nigeria’s sovereignty or territorial integrity.