The Centre for Public Accountability, in collaboration with Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, has warned against inciting religious and tribal intolerance in Nigeria, following controversies over U.S threat to invade the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the threat by U S President Donald Trump to invade Nigeria over alleged killing of Christians, has continued to generate controversies in Nigeria.
Speaking at a news conference in Lagos on Monday, Convener of the coalition, Mr Declan Ihekaire, lamented that many Nigerians have continued to make negative comments on such sensitive issue that might further worsen the nation’s security challenges.
“What is sacrosanct in this issue is that the unity of Nigeria must be preserved. We categorically reject the divisive and inflammatory claim that the insecurity ravaging parts of the country is exclusively targeted at Nigeria’s Christian population.
“Such narratives are dangerous, simplistic, and deliberately engineered to inflame religious tensions,” he said.
Ihekaire explained that insecurity in Nigeria is a national problem not a Christian, Muslim, or ethnic problem and remained a threat to every citizen
He said that security challenges must be addressed holistically, without bias, sentiment, or political coloration.
According to him, Nigeria cannot and must not become another destabilised theatre of global power play.
“Those behind terrorism and insurgency — and their sponsors — are intentionally attacking certain Christian-dominated communities in certain regions, not because the crisis is religious.
“These people aim to manipulate emotions, fuel sectarian suspicion, and fracture national unity.
“At the same time, Muslim-majority communities in the North have also suffered devastating attacks, with thousands killed or displaced,” he said.
He noted that Nigeria has continued to face serious security challenges — terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes, and organised criminality in spite of efforts by the Federal Government.
“Let it be clearly stated that President Bola Tinubu inherited a security architecture already weakened by years of insurgency, underfunded institutions, and a dangerously porous border system.
“These problems did not arise today, and they certainly did not originate under this administration.
“There’s no doubt, that Tinubu has had to confront, head-on, a deeply entrenched crisis that had festered for more than a decade.
“It is, therefore, unfair, misleading, and politically motivated for anyone — foreign or local — to suggest that the ongoing killings across the country began recently or that they are the result of negligence by the current administration.”
Also speaking, Mr Gbenga Soloki, said there is need for Nigeria to deal decisively with sponsors of terrorism.
Soloki said security challenges all over the world are not surmounted in a day, urging Nigerian leaders to support the Federal Government and security agencies in the fight against criminalities.
On his part, Mr Femi Lawson, National Secretary, Campaign for Democracy, commended the Ministry of Interior for its bold innovative reforms, particularly in strengthening border protection systems to curb illegal migration, arms trafficking, and cross-border criminal networks.
“The digital surveillance, identity management systems, including enhanced passport processing reforms, and improved data integration across security platforms by the ministry has helped to addressing insecurity.
“These initiatives represent the kind of forward-thinking security modernisation Nigeria urgently requires,” he added. (NAN)
