The Coalition of Northern Groups has strongly condemned recent statements by United States President Donald Trump regarding Nigeria's security situation, describing his comments as reckless and provocative.
Trump's Remarks Spark Outrage
During a press briefing held in Abuja on Monday, the National Coordinator of CNG, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, expressed deep concern over President Trump's threat of military action against Nigeria. The American leader had alleged that genocide against Christians was occurring in the West African nation.
Charanchi characterized Trump's comments as ignorant and misleading, warning that such statements could fuel sectarian tensions at a time when Nigerians are working to overcome insecurity and division. He emphasized that the Western portrayal of Nigeria's violence as religiously one-sided contradicts available data.
Statistical Evidence Challenges Narrative
The CNG coordinator presented compelling statistics to counter the genocide claims. He revealed that in 2024 alone, 9,662 people were killed in violent incidents across Nigeria, with the northern region bearing the brunt of this violence.
The breakdown showed that 86% of these deaths occurred in northern Nigeria, distributed as follows: 41% in the North-West, 25.9% in the North-East, and 19.3% in the North-Central regions. These figures demonstrate that violence affects all communities in the affected areas.
Citing verified data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, Charanchi provided additional context. Between January 2020 and September 2025, over 20,400 civilians were killed in violent attacks across Nigeria. In incidents where religious affiliation could be verified, the data showed 317 Christian deaths and 417 Muslim deaths.
Foreign Interference and Hidden Agendas
The coalition leader accused international actors of manipulating Nigeria's security narrative for geopolitical purposes. He specifically mentioned a petition by Amnesty International, which he claimed was cynically deployed to give credibility to what he called a toxic Western narrative.
Charanchi asserted that the claim of Christian genocide represents a strategic deception rather than a genuine misunderstanding. He argued that it serves geopolitical interests aimed at destabilizing Nigeria and justifying future interventions.
The CNG coordinator referenced historical patterns, noting that the United States and its allies have frequently used human rights concerns as camouflage for resource control and political dominance in various countries, including Iraq and Libya.
Selective Outrage and Double Standards
The group highlighted what they perceive as Western hypocrisy in addressing violence in Nigeria. They recalled the Zaria massacre of December 2015, where over 340 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, mostly Shiite Muslims, were killed. The coalition condemned the United States and Western nations for their silence on this incident.
CNG also accused Western governments of ignoring violent activities by the Indigenous People of Biafra, claiming the group had killed over 600 Northerners since 2021 through targeted attacks, road ambushes, and enforcement of illegal sit-at-home orders in the South-East.
The coalition warned that if Nigeria fails to control its narrative and security situation, the resulting instability could engulf the entire Sahel region. They emphasized that the security crisis stems from weak governance and institutional decay rather than religious conflict.
Charanchi concluded by reaffirming CNG's commitment to truth, justice, and national sovereignty, while calling for divine guidance for Nigeria's leaders in steering the nation toward peace and justice for all citizens, regardless of religious affiliation.
