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By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
The Federal Government says all religions and ethic groups in the country are targets and have been victims of terrorism.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, stated this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to Idris, the government and people of Nigeria have taken note of the position of the Government of the U.S. over alleged violations of religious freedom.
“Nigeria faces longstanding security challenges that have impacted Christians and Muslims alike, and we mourn every loss of life, knowing that even a single loss of life is one too many.
“President Bola Tinubu is more than determined to confront and end these security challenges.
“Since May 2023, when he assumed office, Nigeria’s security agencies have neutralised more than 13,500 terrorists through sustained operations and arrested over 17,000 suspects, who are now undergoing interrogation or prosecution for various offences.
“Also, more than 9,800 victims abducted by terrorist elements, including women and children, have been rescued and reintegrated.
“It is important to restate that the menace of terrorism in Nigeria does not exclusively target any religious or ethnic group.
“As in many parts of the world, extremism is mindless, blind to religion, tribe, or class. It is a war against all peace-loving Nigerians and against the unity and progress of our great nation,” Idris said.
The minister further explained that any narrative suggesting that the Nigerian state is failing to take action against religious attacks is based on misinformation or faulty data.
He added that several leading personnel of the dedicated Armed Forces of Nigeria and the country’s intelligence agencies are Christians.
According to him, they are working and succeeding alongside their Muslim colleagues in the fight against extremists and criminals waging war against the country and values.
“Nigeria’s security challenge cannot be fully understood without acknowledging the volatile security situation in the Sahel region.
“Other complicating factors is the collapse of Libya over a decade ago, flooding the region with terrorist elements, extremist groups, and illegal weapons.
“The regional dimension underscores why Nigeria continues to champion greater cooperation within ECOWAS, the African Union, and international partners, including ths United States, to stabilise the Sahel and cut off the transnational lifelines of terrorism.
“The other issue is the socio-economic dimension of the conflict in the North-Central, especially in Plateau and Benue, exacerbated by age-long farmers-herders violent clashes made worse by climate change and desertification.
“The recent change in Service Chiefs and the subsequent realignment within the Armed Forces and security agencies reflect President Tinubu’s determination to reinvigorate Nigeria’s security architecture.
“This strategic overhaul is designed to infuse fresh energy, innovation, and accountability into our national defence and intelligence systems,” he said.
According to him, the mission is to deliver better results, strengthen coordination among the services, and stamp out terrorism and violent crime in every part of Nigeria.
“The President’s directive is unequivocal, that every inch of Nigerian territory must be secured, and every citizen must live free from fear,” he said (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi
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