The Chairman of the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa, Chris Smith, has urged President Bola Tinubu to take decisive action against terrorists responsible for killings and widespread destruction across Nigeria.
Speaking on Inside Sources, a programme on Channels Television, Smith said Nigerians “deserve better” from the current administration as insecurity continues to escalate in several regions.
“My view is that he has to act; I’m not going to say the good, the bad and the ugly about Tinubu. The CPC designation was done in good faith.
“And do it not for us; do it for your own people. They deserve better than looking the other way as all of this happens,” he said.
Smith criticised recent comments by Nigeria’s foreign minister, who claimed that only a “few” people had been killed in recent attacks. “Please, just tell the truth and combat the evil,” he added.
The remarks come amid a review of Nigeria’s classification as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by the US government.
During a hearing held last Thursday, speakers presented conflicting accounts of the scale and nature of killings across Nigeria.
The scrutiny followed President Donald Trump’s assertion that a “Christian genocide” was underway in Nigeria, a claim the Nigerian government has repeatedly rejected, insisting it is actively addressing security threats nationwide.
In a statement released on Saturday and personally signed by him, President Tinubu dismissed allegations that Nigeria is hostile toward Christians, describing such claims as untrue and inconsistent with the country’s democratic values.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it recognise government efforts to safeguard freedom of religion and belief,” Tinubu said.
He added that since assuming office in 2023, his administration has engaged regularly with Christian and Muslim leaders while confronting security challenges affecting citizens across religious and regional lines.
“Since 2023, our administration has maintained active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders and continues to address security challenges affecting citizens across faiths.
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so,” he said.
Tinubu reaffirmed his government’s willingness to work with the United States and the wider international community to enhance protection for all religious communities in Nigeria.
“Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths. Our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen cooperation on protecting communities of all faiths,” he said.
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