The Special Adviser to the Sokoto State Governor on Security, Col. Ahmed Usman (rtd), has declared that the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by United States President Donald Trump was a threat to the nation’s unity, sovereignty,and stability.
Col. Usman, a retired military officer and security analyst, gave the warning while presenting a paper titled “Harnessing Intelligence Technology and Local Knowledge to Counter Evolving Security Threats in Nigeria” at the Africa Regional Security Conference, Award and Expo 2025, held at the University of Lagos on Saturday.
He said Trump’s claim that the move was to protect Christians in Nigeria was “misguided and dangerous,” as it could inflame sectarian tensions and embolden extremist groups already exploiting religious narratives to divide communities.”
“When extremists or bandits strike, they do not ask their victims’ religion. Nigerians of all faiths—Muslim, Christian, and traditional—suffer equally,” he said.
The retired army officer explained that the country’s security challenges—terrorism, banditry, and farmer–herder conflicts—were largely driven by economic hardship, resource competition, organized crime, and environmental pressures, not government-backed persecution.
He maintained that Nigeria remains a constitutional democracy where freedom of religion is protected and that Christians and Muslims work together in government, the armed forces, and civil institutions.
“Our problem is not intolerance; it is inadequate resources to combat non-state actors who exploit poverty and social grievances,” usman added.
He warned that labeling Nigeria as a CPC or threatening unilateral military intervention could legitimise extremist propaganda and distort the true nature of the country’s internal security problems.
“Any attempt by a foreign power to deploy force on Nigerian soil without consent would constitute a grave violation of international law and an unacceptable affront to our sovereignty,” he declared. “Nigeria’s Armed Forces are fully capable of defending all Nigerians—Muslim and Christian alike.”
He urged the United States to pursue constructive engagement with Nigeria through intelligence sharing, security training, and economic cooperation instead of sanctions and political labeling.
“If Washington truly values peace and religious freedom, it must listen to Nigerians—not speak for them. The path to security lies in cooperation, not coercion; in respect, not rhetoric,” he said.
Col. Usman concluded with a call for mutual respect between both nations, stressing that Nigeria needs “partners, not patrons; dialogue, not designation.”
