The Federal Government on Friday acknowledged the rising number of killings across the country but insisted it is taking concrete steps to address Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
Gkingmusik reports that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Idris said, “Yes, we have people being killed, no doubt about that, and the government is not shying away or denying this.”
The minister explained that the surging fatalities stem from a mix of religious tensions, economic stress, and persistent communal clashes, particularly in the Middle Belt.
He stressed that no responsible government benefits from insecurity and noted that President Bola Tinubu is “deeply saddened” by every loss of life.
Idris further stated, “Do we have people killed? Yes. Is it a good thing? No. Is the government doing anything? Quite a lot.”
He dismissed claims of religious genocide, maintaining that extremist violence affects both Christians and Muslims.
“You have jihadist extremism coming from the North-East, and this is a sixteen-year struggle,” he said, noting that the extremist groups behind the killings target all faiths.
He stressed that portraying the crisis as one-sided or religiously motivated “is inaccurate and unhelpful.”
The minister also defended President Tinubu’s security record, insisting that before US President, Donald Trump, redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), the Federal Government had already taken significant steps to strengthen national security.
He pointed to the recent overhaul of the security architecture, including the replacement of service chiefs, as part of efforts to improve operational effectiveness nationwide.
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