FG Blames Foreign Infiltrators For Nigeria’s Insurgency, Says Tinubu Not Responsible

ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal Government has blamed Nigeria’s insurgency on foreign nationals who infiltrated the country through its porous borders, saying the security crisis predates President Bola Tinubu’s administration, [DATE.]. Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume made the assertion while addressing participants at the First Plenary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria in Abuja, citing security reports and ongoing international cooperation.

Speaking at St. Gabriel’s Chaplaincy, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Akume said insecurity was a global challenge and not peculiar to Nigeria.

“Insecurity is a problem not only in this country but throughout the world. Even advanced countries are going through this,” he said.

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He described the pattern of killings across parts of the country as tragic but insisted that the violence did not begin under the current administration.

On the contentious issue of reintegrating former Boko Haram members, Akume clarified that efforts to absorb ex-terrorists into the military were initiated under the previous administration but were resisted and ultimately halted.

“There were attempts to put them in the military, but that was resisted. That was not done,” he said.

He urged religious leaders and other stakeholders to examine the security situation objectively.

“You will have your own session and dissect whatever we say, but let me say what I have as a security report,” Akume added.

According to the SGF, many suspects arrested in connection with recent attacks were foreign nationals.

“Many of these people who have been arrested don’t speak English. They speak very poor Hausa, but they speak French. Do we speak French in Nigeria? No,” he said.

While acknowledging that Boko Haram originated in Nigeria, Akume maintained that several attackers currently operating in forests and rural communities — particularly in parts of Niger State and other affected areas — are from outside the country.

“Those who are doing the killings, most of them are from outside the country. I say what I know to be true based on security reports,” he said.

Referencing recent drone strikes in Sokoto State, Akume said the government was actively confronting security threats and working with international partners.

“It is not that we are just sitting by; America is cooperating with Nigeria. We are working together,” he said.

He also disclosed that Tinubu’s recent visit to Turkey was partly to procure additional military hardware to strengthen the country’s security capacity.

“The main reason the President was in Turkey was to purchase more armaments. This includes drones. So we are not just sitting idle,” Akume said.