The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Felix Morka, has dismissed claims of genocide in Nigeria, describing as “flawed and unreasonable” the basis for reported threats of possible US intervention under President Donald Trump.
Speaking in a recent interview, Morka said there was no ongoing genocide in Nigeria, insisting that the violence in some parts of the country was largely the work of non-state actors, rather than government forces. “Beyond the mention by the President of the United States, nothing has happened to suggest that this is an existential crisis”, Morka said. “When this proposed threat by the US President is properly evaluated, it will not pass any test of reasonableness. The facts on which this suggestion was made are flawed, there is no present genocide occurring in Nigeria.”
He explained that Nigeria’s security challenges are real but under control, stressing that the government has been proactive in confronting terrorism and protecting civilians.
“No one denies that we are challenged by insecurity, largely unleashed by these forces of terror who make capital out of slaughtering defenseless people. But the government of Nigeria has been very vehement in responding to these threats”, he said.
Morka, a lawyer and international relations expert trained in the United States, urged Washington to work collaboratively with Nigeria rather than acting unilaterally.
“The US government, as leader of the free world, has a responsibility to strategically partner with Nigeria, share intelligence and support our fight against terror”, he said. “If the United States enters this theatre without proper partnership, the consequences will go beyond Nigeria — it could destabilise the region and even affect Europe and North America.”
Defending President Bola Tinubu’s security record, the APC spokesman said available data showed that terror-related attacks and casualties are on the decline, crediting the military for its ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.
“Every expert you talk to will tell you that we have been witnessing a steep decline in the numbers of attacks and victims of terror-related violence. This only means the military, under this president, is taking the battle to the perpetrators, Morka said. “Our fighting forces deserve commendation. It’s not easy to confront shadowy figures who disguise as civilians to unleash violence on innocent Nigerians.”
He dismissed criticisms from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing it of hypocrisy and opportunism.
“Boko Haram did not begin in 2015. It came into prominence in 2009 when the PDP was in power. They had the chance to wipe it out in its infancy but failed”, Morka said. “It is hypocritical for the PDP to now accuse this administration of failure when it couldn’t defeat terror at its weakest.”
Morka said terrorism was a global challenge that even world powers like the United States have struggled to overcome, citing the protracted wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Yemen.
