The Federal Government on Wednesday blamed the renewed terror attacks, including the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi and the assault on worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State, on recent remarks by United States as public anger over the incidents spread nationwide.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said Trump’s posts alleging “Christian genocide” in Nigeria and threatening to deploy US troops had “inadvertently emboldened opportunistic violent groups” now seeking to justify attacks on soft targets.
Addressing the evolution of violent extremism, banditry and ongoing security challenges in the country, the SGF disclosed that “Before the US statements, insurgency structures had been significantly degraded and reduced to isolated banditry.