The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mo­hammed Idris, stated this at a press conference in Abuja.

Idris said the government’s findings point to a network of ex­ternal actors, particularly in the United States, deliberately pro­moting divisive and misleading portrayals of Nigeria’s internal security challenges.

“The Nigerian government has been able to see a correlation between some of the lobbyists operating especially in the US and their activities here in Nigeria,” he said. ­

 Idris said while the adminis­tration recognises that insecurity has affected many communities, there is no evidence to support claims of systematic targeting of any religious group in the country.

The minister acknowledged the U.S. concerns over alleged violations of religious freedom, emphasising that Nigeria recog­nises the security challenges it faces since 2009, primarily due to Boko Haram and other extremist groups.

He stressed that terrorism in Nigeria targets all citizens, irrespective of religion or ethnicity, and condemned any narratives suggesting the government’s failure to tackle these threats.

The minister highlighted significant achievements under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, including the neutralisation of over 13,500 ter­rorists and the arrest of more than 17,000 suspects since May 2023.

He detailed efforts in rescu­ing and rehabilitating over 9,800 victims, including women and children, and emphasised that Nigeria’s security forces are com­posed of both Christian and Mus­lim personnel working together to combat extremism.

The regional dimension of in­security was also addressed, with Idris pointing to the volatile Sahel region, the collapse of Libya, and the influx of terrorist elements and illegal weapons as compli­cating factors.

“Nigeria continues to advocate for regional and international cooperation, particularly within ECOWAS and the African Union, to address transnational threats”, he said.

In terms of military success, Idris detailed recent operations that led to the destruction of over 5,000 weapons and the intercep­tion of numerous arms-smug­gling networks.

He also mentioned the acqui­sition of modern security equip­ment, including Super Tucano aircraft and attack helicopters, to bolster Nigeria’s counter-terror­ism efforts.

Addressing ongoing trials of detention and prosecution of high-profile terror suspects, Idris reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law, stating that over 125 terrorists have been convicted so far.

He emphasised that Nigeria remains resolute in its mission to eliminate terrorism and crimi­nality entirely.

Idris called for continued inter­national support, noting Nigeria’s cooperation with the U.S., which has included the delivery of mil­itary aircraft vital to the anti-in­surgency campaign.

He urged the U.S. and other partners to understand Nigeria’s complex socio-political landscape and to approach the security situ­ation with empathy and construc­tive engagement.

The information minister reassured Nigerians that the government is fully committed to safeguarding their liberty and religion while strengthening the nation’s economy and security architecture under President Tinubu’s leadership.

He expressed hope for im­proved diplomatic relations and called for greater partnership in overcoming shared security chal­lenges.

“Federal Government re­mains committed to defending its sovereignty and fostering international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, asserting that dialogue and mutual respect are essential for lasting peace and stability”, he added.