By Henry Obetta
LAGOS — The Centre for Public Accountability (CPA), in collaboration with a Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, has issued a strong warning against the spread of religious and tribal intolerance in Nigeria, following recent international controversies surrounding the country’s security situation.
The warning comes in the wake of statements by US President Donald Trump, who had reportedly threatened military intervention in Nigeria over alleged targeted killings of Christians. Speaking at a news conference in Lagos, Convener of the coalition, Mr. Declan Ihekaire, expressed deep concern over the inflammatory narratives circulating both locally and internationally.
“What is sacrosanct in this issue is that the unity of Nigeria must be preserved,” Ihekaire said. “We categorically reject the divisive and inflammatory claim that the insecurity ravaging parts of the country is exclusively targeted at Nigeria’s Christian population. Such narratives are dangerous, simplistic, and deliberately engineered to inflame religious tensions.”
He emphasised that insecurity in Nigeria is a nationwide problem, affecting all citizens regardless of religion or ethnicity, and must be approached in a holistic manner free from bias or political colouration. According to Ihekaire, perpetrators of violence often target specific communities for strategic reasons, not necessarily on the basis of religion.
“Those behind terrorism and insurgency — and their sponsors — are intentionally attacking certain Christian-dominated communities in certain regions, not because the crisis is religious,” Ihekaire explained. “These individuals aim to manipulate emotions, fuel sectarian suspicion, and fracture national unity. At the same time, Muslim-majority communities in the North have also suffered devastating attacks, with thousands killed or displaced.”
Ihekaire also highlighted the historical context of Nigeria’s security challenges, noting that the current administration inherited a fragile security architecture. “President Bola Tinubu inherited a security system weakened by years of insurgency, underfunded institutions, and porous borders. These problems did not arise overnight, nor did they originate under this administration. Tinubu has had to confront a deeply entrenched crisis that has festered for more than a decade.”
He warned that it is unfair and misleading for both foreign and local actors to suggest that ongoing killings across the country are a recent development or the result of negligence by the current government.
Adding to the discussion, Mr. Olufemi Lawson, National Secretary of the Campaign for Democracy, commended the Ministry of Interior for its innovative security reforms. He pointed to advancements such as digital surveillance, improved identity management systems, enhanced passport processing, and better data integration across security platforms as steps toward modernising Nigeria’s security framework.
Another convener of the coalition, Mr. Gbenga Soloki, stressed the need for a comprehensive national approach to insecurity. “While progress has been made, the government must intensify efforts to identify, pursue, and apprehend the masterminds behind insecurity — including financiers, informants, collaborators, and foreign enablers. Thorough investigations into the economic, political, and external interests benefiting from prolonged insecurity are crucial. Strengthening community-based intelligence, empowering traditional institutions, and improving local policing frameworks will further enhance national security,” he said.
The coalition’s statement underscores a clear message: Nigeria’s security crisis is complex, multi-dimensional, and national in scope, and attempts to frame it as a religious genocide are not only misleading but risk deepening divisions in an already fragile socio-political environment.