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A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd), has warned that the recent remarks by former United States President Donald Trump, threatening military action in Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians, are part of a larger agenda to justify an American military presence in the country.
Dambazau, who spoke in Abuja at a public forum on national security and civic responsibility, said the so-called “Christian genocide” narrative being promoted in some Western circles was not only misleading but also dangerous to Nigeria’s sovereignty and unity.
The event, organized by JustFriendsClub, a socio-philanthropic association on the theme: ‘Nigeria’s Security Challenges and the Quest for National Cohesion: A New Paradigm for Internal Security Architecture and Governance
He alleged that the United States was using religion as a political tool to advance its strategic interests in West Africa, particularly in the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea regions.
“The United States is looking for an opportunity to establish an alternative base in Nigeria after losing strategic influence in parts of the Sahel,” Dambazau said.
“They are using the excuse of religious persecution to mask a deeper geopolitical interest. This narrative of a Christian genocide is not supported by facts — it is part of an attempt to divide Nigerians and weaken our internal cohesion.”
The former army chief, who also served as Minister of Interior, said insecurity in Nigeria had complex roots tied to governance, economic disparity, and the proliferation of arms across Africa, not religion.
“Our conflicts are multidimensional — involving ethnicity, competition for resources, and weak law enforcement,” he said. “Portraying them as Christian-Muslim clashes is an oversimplification that serves the propaganda interests of outsiders.”
He added that Nigeria must resist any foreign agenda that undermines its sovereignty and instead strengthen domestic security institutions to respond to emerging threats.
“We must be vigilant and ensure that foreign powers do not exploit our internal challenges as an excuse to plant military influence in our land,” he cautioned. “Our security reform must come from within, through credible intelligence sharing, civic engagement, and good governance — not foreign occupation.”
Dambazau’s comments come days after former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly threatened that the United States could “take action” against Nigeria over what he described as continued killings of Christians. The remarks, which have sparked diplomatic criticism in the country, follow last week’s decision by Washington to re-designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act.
The retired general dismissed the U.S. designation as “ill-informed,” insisting that Nigeria guarantees freedom of religion and that both Christians and Muslims have been victims of terrorism and banditry.
“When Boko Haram bombs a mosque or a church, they are not fighting for Islam or Christianity. They are criminals who target innocent Nigerians to cause fear,” he said. “We must not allow external actors to redefine our identity or dictate our national response.”
Dambazau urged religious leaders, civil society, and the media to work together in countering false narratives that could inflame divisions or invite external interference.
“The media must not echo divisive labels from abroad,” he warned. “We have a responsibility to present the truth — that Nigeria’s challenges are national, not sectarian.”
The former army chief further called on the federal government to strengthen regional security cooperation through the Multinational Joint Task Force and invest in intelligence-driven counterterrorism strategies to combat cross-border threats.
He added that true stability in the Sahel and West Africa would come not from foreign troops but from strong African partnerships and responsive governance.
“Africa’s future cannot be dictated from Washington or Paris,” Dambazau concluded. “It must be built from Abuja, Accra, and Niamey — by Africans who understand our realities.”
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