United States (US) has pledged to strengthen security cooperation with Nigeria, offering enhanced intelligence sharing, defence equipment and additional support for ongoing operations against terrorist and extremist groups.
Recall that the commitment followed a series of high-level engagements in Washington, DC, last week between senior US officials and a Nigerian delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The talks were aimed at reinforcing existing security partnerships and opening new channels for collaboration.
Members of the delegation included the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi; Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Undiandeye; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and senior officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the delegation used the meetings across the US Congress, the State Department, the National Security Council, the White House Faith Office and the Department of War to counter claims of genocide in Nigeria.
Onanuga said the officials stressed that violence in the country cuts across ethnic and religious communities, warning that mischaracterisations risk deepening divisions and distorting the complexity of the situation.
According to the Presidency, the discussions helped “correct misconceptions about Nigeria,” strengthened trust between both nations, and advanced a joint approach to protecting vulnerable communities, particularly in the Middle Belt.
Washington, he added, also signalled readiness to expand humanitarian assistance to affected areas and provide technical aid to improve early-warning systems.
Both countries agreed to immediately activate a non-binding cooperation framework and set up a Joint Working Group to coordinate progress across agreed areas.
It was said that Nigeria, in turn, reaffirmed its commitment to improving civilian protection.
“The Federal Government restates its awareness of heightened sensitivities regarding religious freedom and security, and urges citizens to remain assured that firm, urgent and coordinated steps are being taken to secure the nation,” Onanuga said.
The statement comes weeks after former US President Donald Trump issued a warning on Truth Social, threatening to halt American aid to Nigeria and to deploy US forces “guns-a-blazing” should the government fail to stop what he described as the killing of Christians. He also labelled Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern.”
President Bola Tinubu has since rejected allegations of genocide against Christians, insisting that Nigeria remains committed to religious freedom and tolerance.
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