FG Navigates Trump’s CPC Landmine with Wisdom

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The Nigerian government has chosen the wise path of constructive engagement over confrontation with the United States of America over the redesignation of the country as a Country of Particular Concern, CPC.  Nigeria was first designated a CPC in 2020 by the Biden administration, which was lifted in 2021. President Donald Trump has reimposed it to draw global attention and action to what is perceived as a deliberate targeting of Christians in Nigeria.

Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, on Wednesday, October 5, 2025, at a press conference at the National Press Centre Abuja, assured Nigerians that the government has “the political will to remove the last vestiges of this menace from our country.”

He said the government of Nigeria “remains open and willing to work closely with the government of the United States, other friendly nations and partners, to achieve our shared goal – the complete elimination of terrorism on Nigerian soil.”

Idris recalled there is an existing security cooperation between Nigeria and United States, which “has already resulted in the delivery of a dozen Super Tucano aircraft – which have been of tremendous impact in the anti-insurgency fight – with another dozen AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters in the process of being acquired by the Nigerian Air Force. We call on our American friends and partners to approach the Nigerian situation with an understanding of its complex realities – a vast, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious nation making significant strides in economic reform and in the bolstering of its security architecture.

“We believe that constructive engagement is the surest and most effective way to achieve peace and stability. Nigeria welcomes dialogue, cooperation, and support from foreign nations, including the United States of America in addressing our shared security concerns. We warmly invite all our partners, both domestic and international, to join us in this noble endeavour, anchored on trust, collaboration, and mutual respect.”

Idris argued that the designation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern by the US government and threats of military invasion by President Donald Trump is a result of “a wrong perception and misrepresentation of the security challenges in our country,” which has persisted since 2009 with the advent of Boko Haram terrorists.

“Let me state from the outset that the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have taken note of the position of the Government of the United States of America on Nigeria over alleged violations of religious freedom. Nigeria faces longstanding security challenges that have impacted Christians and Muslims alike, and we mourn every loss of life – knowing that even a single loss of life is one too many.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is more than determined to confront and end these security challenges. Since May 2023, when he assumed office, Nigeria’s security agencies have neutralized more than 13,500 terrorists through sustained operations and arrested over 17,000 suspects, who are now 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.”

Idris further denies any religious connotation to the killing of Christians. “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.

“Also, Nigeria’s security challenge cannot be fully understood without acknowledging the volatile security situation in the Sahel region – and complicating factors such as the collapse of Libya over a decade ago, flooding the region with terrorist elements, extremist groups, and illegal weapons. The regional dimension underscores why Nigeria continues to champion greater cooperation within ECOWAS, the African Union, and international partners – including the United States – to stabilise the Sahel and cut off the transnational lifelines of terrorism. The other issue is the socio-economic dimension of the conflict in the North-Central, especially in Plateau and Benue State, exacerbated by age-long farmers-herders violent clashes made worse by climate change and desertification”.

He pointed out that the government had been quietly strengthening the security architecture to make it more responsive to the security realities of the country. “The recent change in Service Chiefs and the subsequent realignment within the Armed Forces and security agencies reflect President Tinubu’s determination to reinvigorate Nigeria’s security architecture. This strategic overhaul is designed to infuse fresh energy, innovation, and accountability into our national defence and intelligence systems.

“The mission is to deliver better results, strengthen coordination among the services, and stamp out terrorism and violent crime in every part of Nigeria. The President’s directive is unequivocal – that every inch of Nigerian territory must be secured, and every citizen must live free from fear.”

He described the achievements of the Tinubu administration on security as ‘real and remarkable.’ “We have made stringent efforts in curtailing access to small arms and light weapons by non-state actors. Security agencies recovered and destroyed over 5,000 military-grade rifles and intercepted over 20 gun-running networks in the past months.

“The administration has made multi-million-dollar investments in modernised equipment for our security agencies and has increased the defence and security budget. The President has always given the military his absolute support, and I assure you that there is the political will to remove the last vestiges of this menace from our country.

“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 neutralised over 592 terrorists in Borno State alone. Over 13,500 terrorists and armed criminals have been neutralised. More than 17,000 arrests were made. Over 11,200 hostages were 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 neutralised. In August, the military intercepted and killed, in one fell swoop, over 400 armed bandits who had converged to attack a village in Zamfara.

According to the minister, “In the South-East, terror attacks have been reduced by almost 80 percent through the joint efforts of our security agencies. In the North-Central, many of these criminal elements have been neutralised, and many arrests have been made. The government is ratcheting up efforts to ensure more robust security in the North-Central as new threats emerge.

“Two terrorism suspects, Mahmud Muhammad Usman and Abubakar Abba, who are wanted internationally, are currently undergoing prosecution. The two, who are believed to be leaders of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, commonly known as ANSARU, Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate, were captured in a high-risk, intelligence-led, counter-terrorism operation in July.

“Their arrest marked a turning point in our ongoing operations against terrorism. Usman, the self-styled Emir of ANSARU, allegedly coordinated various terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria. He is also believed to have masterminded several high-profile kidnappings and robberies, the proceeds of which were used to finance terrorism over the years. Abba, Usman’s chief of staff and deputy, is alleged to have led the so-called “Mahmudawa” cell, which operated around the Kainji National Park, located on the border between the states of Niger and Kwara, as well as the Republic of Benin.

“Another terror suspect, Khalid Al‑Barnawi, accused of being the mastermind of the August 26, 2011, bombing of the United Nations Complex in Abuja, in which 20 people were killed and more than 70 others injured, is also facing prosecution. Captured in 2016, Al Barnawi is facing trial along with four other terror suspects – Mohammed Bashir Saleh, Umar Mohammed Bello aka Datti, Mohammed Salisu, and Yakubu Nuhu aka Bello Maishayi”.

On August 11, five terror suspects were arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022, attack at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State. Also undergoing trial are the suspects arrested in connection with the Yelwata massacre in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State on June 13, 2025, where dozens of people were killed and 107 were injured. This drew worldwide condemnation.

On June 24, 2025, 26 suspects were arrested in connection with the massacre. In August 2025, terrorism-related charges were filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja against the suspects.

Idris said 125 terrorists have been convicted. “The various arrests and trials of terrorism suspects showed that Nigeria’s security agencies have been diligent in dealing with the perpetrators of terror in the country.

He assured that “We shall continue to make the suspects accountable for disrupting the peace of our country, in consonance with the rule of law. The federal government will not recline until the remnants of these hounds of death are permanently removed. The Government of Nigeria remains open and willing to work closely with the government of the United States, other friendly nations and partners, to achieve our shared goal – the complete elimination of terrorism on Nigerian soil.”

Idris said 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 and the United States.”

Dele Alake, veteran journalist and minister of Solid Minerals Development, urged Nigerian journalists to use the data provided by the government “to counter the narrative of inaction.” He observed that “people react emotionally. In Tinubu’s government, we are reacting with empirical data of specific actions.”

According to him, “Insecurity did not start in 2023, the plethora of actions taken in the past two years, if they were taken ten years ago, they would have made a lot of difference. These results came from exhaustive planning, not accident.”

He argued that the U.S “is not talking about terrorism; rather they are talking of killing Christians. The attacks are economic, not religious. It is totally, totally off the mark to be called religious persecution.”

Alake urged journalists to be mindful of the “responsibility theory of the Press; it’s our duty to protect our country.”

He alleged without evidence that “foreign groups have been sponsoring division within the country to favour themselves.”

Alake further alleged that the “narrative came from Nigeria. A group that lost election is pressing the U.S to take action against Nigeria.”