Nigeria’s current insecurity not religious — FG

File photo of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi

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The Federal Government has said that Nigeria’s current security challenges are not religious in nature, insisting that concerted efforts are being made to tackle terrorism and all forms of violent extremism across the country.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), made this known on Tuesday in Abuja while addressing journalists after a closed-door meeting with a United States Congressman and the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr.

Recall that the United States President, Donald Trump, in October, declared Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern’ in response to allegations of a Christian genocide in the country.

Trump, in a Truth Social media post shared on the White House’s X handle, stated that, “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern.’

While the AGF noted that the meeting was to address further the insecurity bedevilling the country, he added that the meeting was an opportunity for the Federal Government to present its perspective on terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria and to allow the visiting US lawmaker to assess the situation firsthand.

“This meeting is about the issue of terrorism going on in the country, and to afford us further opportunity to explain our own side of the story. We have explained this to them when we entered Washington, and I am happy that they are also here to see things for themselves,” he said.

He stressed that although Nigeria faces substantial security challenges, they are not driven by religious considerations.

“What is important is to apprise them that even though we have challenges in Nigeria, it is not religious. We have security challenges, and the government is doing its utmost to ensure that these challenges are addressed,” Fagbemi stated.

The Attorney-General noted that his ministry is responsible for prosecuting suspects arrested in connection with terrorism and extremism-related offences, adding that the government follows due process in handling such cases.

“The one that concerns the Federal Ministry of Justice is about the prosecution of the people arrested in connection with extremism, and we are able to explain to them how far we have come and what we are also doing,” he said.

Providing an update on terrorism-related prosecutions, Fagbemi disclosed that between 2017 and 2025, the government had secured 860 convictions and 891 discharges.

“For instance, today, as we speak, the terrorism trial is still going on. I have been there today and I have taken one or two of the cases, and I want to seize this opportunity to let you know that as of today, from 2017 to 2025, we have secured 860 convictions and 891 acquittals, that is, discharges,” he said.

He explained further that the figures reflected the government’s commitment to the rule of law.

“What this speaks to, particularly the issue of discharges of the defendants, is that we don’t just arrest people and clamp them into prison. We follow due process. They are profiled. Those who have nothing to do with it are let off the hook. Those we believe we have cases against, we take them to court. It is for the court to decide,” Fagbemi added.

He said the Federal Government abides by court decisions, whether convictions or acquittals.

“So whenever the court takes a decision, we comply with or abide by the decision, and that is why we have both convictions and acquittals,” he said.

Fagbemi also disclosed that the visiting US Congressman had met with several security and government agencies, as well as civil society and religious organisations.

“We are not the only agency that they are visiting. They have visited a number of agencies. I am aware, for example, that they visited the Office of the National Security Adviser. They have visited the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff and a few other agencies. They have also met with some civil society organisations and religious forces,” he said.

He urged the public to avoid exaggerating the security situation in the country.

“I want to tell you that things are not as heinous as people are portraying. I can assure you of that. We have problems in Nigeria. It is not a problem of religion,” the Attorney-General stated.

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