THE Presidency says the United States Government has affirmed its readiness to deepen security cooperation with Nigeria, including the provision of enhanced intelligence support, defence equipment, and articles to reinforce ongoing operations against terrorists and violent extremist groups in the country.
News Point Nigeria reports that this follows discussions and engagements held last week between a high-level Nigerian delegation and US officials, aimed at strengthening security partnerships between the two countries and opening new avenues for cooperation.
The delegation, led by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, had met with senior officials across the US Congress, the White House Faith Office, the State Department, the National Security Council, and the Department of War.
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 two representatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, during the engagements in Washington, DC, the Nigerian delegation refuted allegations of genocide in Nigeria, emphasising that violent attacks affect families and communities across religious and ethnic lines.
The delegation also rejected the wrongful framing of the situation, saying such a portrayal would only divide Nigerians and distort the realities on the ground.
“The discussions provided ample opportunity to correct misconceptions about Nigeria, forged a constructive, solution-driven partnership with the United States, reinforced mutual trust, and advanced a coordinated approach to protecting vulnerable communities, especially in the Middle Belt.
“The United States also expressed its willingness to extend complementary support, including humanitarian assistance to affected populations in the Middle Belt and technical support to strengthen early-warning mechanisms,” he said.
According to the President’s Media Adviser, both countries agreed to implement immediately a non-binding cooperation framework and to establish a Joint Working Group to ensure a unified and coordinated approach to the agreed areas of cooperation.
He said the Nigerian delegation, in return, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening civilian protection measures.
“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 from the Presidency came weeks after President Donald Trump threatened to send US forces into Nigeria with “guns-a-blazing” if Africa’s most populous country did not stem what he described as the killing of Christians by terrorists.
He had also declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over killings of Christians, describing the situation as a “mass slaughter”.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” he said on Truth Social.
“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet,” Trump added.
But President Bola Tinubu refuted the claims of genocide against Christians, maintaining that Nigeria remains committed to religious freedom and tolerance.