In response to US President Donald Trump’s military threat, the Federal Government claims to have initiated diplomatic talks with the US.
In an interview with Sky News, Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, revealed that diplomatic channels were working to reduce tensions between the two nations.
“Communication lines have been opened. Idris stated, “I can attest that we are speaking with them, and I believe they are comprehending the situation better.”
The minister claimed that a large portion of the concern in Washington was caused by an inadequate comprehension of Nigeria’s varied and intricate security circumstances.
He said, “We think the majority of the information is a result of a lack of a proper understanding of the diversity and complexity of the problem we have at hand.”
Nigeria had not lost any area to Boko Haram, according to Idris, who also said that the war against terrorism was unusual and frequently distorted.
The minister claimed that a banned separatist group in Nigeria had collaborated with US lobbyists to spread false information to powerful Americans.
“Let me also put it out there that we are seeing a direct connection between (US) lobbyists and (a) proscribed terrorist organization in Nigeria, and we have seen how they have established this lobby in the US, contacting high-ups in the US to help them lobby,” he stated.
Idris emphasized the United States’ longtime support for Nigeria’s counterterrorism initiatives and urged Washington to continue such collaboration.
We are stating that, absolutely, the scenario does exist. Conflict exists in Nigeria. Nigeria has a security issue, but in the past, the US government has assisted Nigerian authorities in resolving this issue.
He said, “So we are calling on them to partner with us once again, to help push this, and then we have peace in our country forever.”
The minister stated that some of the data being shared overseas surprised the Federal Government and that it did not fairly represent Nigeria’s security situation.
“We want to tell the world that this is not the case,” he went on. The United States and the rest of the world are concerned about some of these killings that are occurring. However, at this stage, we wish to comprehend the complexity and diversity of the problem.
Idris also contested the veracity of statistics used to bolster allegations of pervasive religious persecution in Nigeria.
He stated, “Some of the assumptions are based on data that largely cannot withstand any scientific scrutiny.”
He emphasized that religious freedom is guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution and that the current conflict should not be seen as persecution based on one’s beliefs.
