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How propaganda and exaggerated genocide narratives triggered punitive international actions against Nigeria
How propaganda and exaggerated genocide narratives triggered punitive international actions against Nigeria
By: Zagazola Makama
Recent United States visa restrictions and mass deportation measures affecting Nigerian nationals have reopened debate on how sustained propaganda, misinformation and alarmist narratives about insecurity in Nigeria shaped international perceptions and policy responses against the country.
While Nigeria continues to face real security challenges including terrorism by ISWAP, Boko Haram, AlQaeda, banditry, farmer–herder clashes and transnational jihadist infiltration, the framing of these conflicts as an organised, state-backed “Christian genocide” has increasingly been questioned by Nigerians.
Yet, for several years, a powerful campaign driven largely by Nigerian activists, politicians and diaspora-based pressure groups portrayed Nigeria as the world’s epicentre of religious extermination, with claims that were grossly exaggerated, unverifiable or outright false.
The agitations grew domestic grievance to international propaganda. Between 2021 and 2024, a wave of advocacy emerged accusing the Nigerian state of deliberately sponsoring or protecting jihadists allegedly engaged in the daily slaughter of Christians. Some campaigners claimed that 1,500 Christians were being killed every day, a figure that would translate to more than 540,000 deaths annually, a number exceeding fatalities recorded in most active war zones globally.
One widely circulated narrative claimed that between 2010 and October 2025, 185,000 people were killed on account of their faith, including 125,000 Christians and 60,000 Muslims, allegedly based on reports from Intersociety, one of the NGO created to push the false claims.” The same narrative alleged that 19,100 churches had been burned and 1,100 Christian communities completely seized and occupied by jihadists supposedly backed or shielded by the Nigerian government.
However, independent verification of these figures consistently failed. No global conflict-monitoring organization, including ACLED, UN agencies, or major international human rights bodies as well as official bodies like Police, DSS, and the NHRC, corroborated such numbers. Nigeria’s total population stands at approximately 240 million, making such casualty claims statistically implausible without triggering global humanitarian emergency responses on the scale of Gaza, Syria or Ukraine.
Zagazola Makama report that while religiously motivated attacks occur, Nigeria’s violence landscape is far more complex, driven by criminal banditry, resource conflict, insurgency, arms proliferation, climate stress and weak border control, affecting Muslims, Christians, Pagan, traditionalist and adherents of other faiths alike.
Despite the lack of empirical grounding, these activities keep weaponizing faith to internationalise pressure. The genocide narrative gained traction in U.S. political circles, evangelical advocacy groups and sections of Western media. Some Nigerian politicians amplified these claims at international forums, urging sanctions, arms embargoes and even military intervention against their own country.
The expectation among agitators was that Trump’s administration would deploy American forces or impose targeted sanctions against Nigerian officials and groups like Miyetti Allah, Boko Haram, Bandit and those that once push for Shariah laws. Instead, the policy response took a different and far more consequential direction. Rather than physical military intervention, Washington opted for strategic intervention with the armed forces of Nigeria through technical support while in their country they opted for tougher penalties like border control, immigration enforcement and visa restrictions, citing insecurity, terrorist activity, document integrity issues and vetting challenges.
Nigeria was subsequently placed under partial U.S. travel restrictions, with the U.S. government explicitly referencing the activities of Boko Haram and ISWAP, and difficulties in screening travellers from affected regions.
The unintended security backlash
Ironically, following persistent framing of Nigeria’s violence as a religious war produced outcomes opposite to what campaigners claimed to seek. Rather than protecting Christians, the rhetoric emboldened extremist groups to carry even more deadlier attacks.
Terrorist organisations, including ISWAP, JAS and al-Qaeda-linked JNIM elements now infiltrating North-Central Nigeria, capitalised on global narratives portraying Nigeria as a battlefield of faith. By attacking churches, clergy and Christian communities, these groups sought to validate the propaganda, provoke sectarian retaliation and trigger a broader religious conflict. This strategy mirrors jihadist doctrine across the Sahel: manufacture sectarian violence, polarise society, delegitimise the state and attract recruits.
Security intelligence from Kwara and Niger States, for instance, shows JNIM’s Katiba Macina exploiting communal tensions along the Benin–Nigeria corridor, recruiting Fulani youths while framing attacks as resistance against “tyranny” language deliberately aimed at feeding international narratives of persecution.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has since justified its tougher posture using data-driven assessments: visa overstay rates, terrorism risks, weak civil documentation systems and law-enforcement information gaps.
For Nigeria, these translated into: Partial visa suspensions for B, F, M and J categories, increased scrutiny of Nigerian travellers, inclusion in broader immigration enforcement actions, Indirect reputational damage affecting trade, education and diplomacy
Meanwhile, The Department Homeland Security announced record deportations and self-removals, over 2.5 million exits since January 2025, a development that disproportionately affects nationals of countries portrayed as high-risk, Nigeria included. Crucially, those most affected are ordinary Nigerians students, professionals, families and entrepreneurs, not terrorists, bandit leaders or militia commanders.
The Fulani bandit in the forest has no interest in a U.S. visa. It is the Nigerian student, pastor, doctor and trader who bears the cost.
Notably, as sanctions and restrictions took effect, the loud genocide rhetoric largely faded from public discourse. The activists who once dominated international media cycles have grown quieter, perhaps confronted by the reality that the consequences fell on Nigeria as a whole, not on imagined perpetrators. This pattern point to a broader lesson in strategic communication: when a nation’s internal crises are exaggerated into existential falsehoods, external actors respond not with rescue but with containment.
A cautionary lesson for national discourse is that; Nigeria’s security challenges are real and demand sustained reform, diplomatic support, and international cooperation. But weaponising religion, spreading unverifiable casualty figures and lobbying for foreign punitive action against one’s own country undermines national security rather than strengthening it. More dangerously, it feeds extremist propaganda, deepens communal mistrust and invites external decisions based on distorted perceptions.
When internal challenges are projected internationally without context or factual balance, foreign governments respond not with solidarity but with restrictions, sanctions and containment. In this environment, propaganda even when framed as advocacy, erodes diplomatic goodwill and inflicts long-term harm on citizens whose lives and opportunities are shaped by external policy decisions.
False alarms and absolutist narratives fracture social trust, embolden extremists and inflame the very fault lines terrorists seek to exploit. Ultimately, propaganda however emotionally persuasive does not protect communities; it weakens national resilience and leaves society more vulnerable to the forces it hopes to defeat.
Zagazola Makama is a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad region
How propaganda and exaggerated genocide narratives triggered punitive international actions against Nigeria
News
Woman Accuses Police of Shielding Officers in Husband’s Disappearance, Seeks Justice Through Courts
Woman Accuses Police of Shielding Officers in Husband’s Disappearance, Seeks Justice Through Courts
By: Michael Mike
Allegations of institutional cover-up have again put the Nigeria Police under scrutiny following claims by Mrs. Nnenna John-Anozie that senior police authorities are deliberately protecting officers linked to the abduction and disappearance of her husband, Mr. John Chukwuemeka Anozie.
Mrs. John-Anozie, at the weekend in Abuja accused the police of ignoring valid court orders and the outcomes of formal investigations, insisting that the actions of the Nigeria Police point to an internal network operating above the law.

According to her, the continued protection of the officers involved has not only obstructed justice but has also eroded public confidence in the institution constitutionally empowered to protect lives and liberties.
She described the police response to her case as a consistent and deliberate failure rather than an administrative lapse. “This is not just negligence; it is a betrayal of public trust,” she said, adding that the law is being openly disregarded by those sworn to uphold it. She maintained that the police authorities are fully aware of the circumstances surrounding her husband’s disappearance but have chosen not to act.
Mrs. John-Anozie further stated that contrary to public perception, the judiciary has not hindered her quest for justice. She explained that the court had ruled in her favour, but enforcement of the judgment has been frustrated by the police’s refusal to comply with binding orders. She warned that such disobedience undermines the authority of the courts and weakens the rule of law.
Her legal counsel, Mr. Vincent Adodo, has since approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, filing a contempt application against the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun. The application seeks an order compelling the police to produce for prosecution officers allegedly connected to the case — identified as Sunday Okpe, Anthony Obiozor Ikechukwu, Emeana Uzochukwu, John Eze, and an officer known as Oriole (also called Tboy) — as well as to release investigation records relating to the matter.

The contempt proceedings are scheduled to be heard on February 9, a date Mrs. John-Anozie describes as crucial not only for her family but also for accountability within law enforcement. She argues that the absence of effective mechanisms to enforce compliance with court orders has prolonged her ordeal and cast doubt on the integrity of the justice system.
Mrs. John-Anozie lamented that efforts to seek justice through the National Human Rights Commission and the EndSARS Judicial Panel seems to have failed as police officers ignored several summons and orders.
She said despite the lengthy process, she is determined to pursue justice through lawful means, stressing that only strict adherence to the rule of law can guarantee accountability, protect citizens’ rights, and restore confidence in public institutions.
Woman Accuses Police of Shielding Officers in Husband’s Disappearance, Seeks Justice Through Courts
News
Legacy Support Group Defends Tinubu’s Reforms, Faults Opposition Over “Misinformation”
Legacy Support Group Defends Tinubu’s Reforms, Faults Opposition Over “Misinformation”
By: Michael Mike
A pro-government group, the Legacy Support Group for President Bola Tinubu, has pushed back against criticisms of the Federal Government’s policies, accusing opposition figures and “disgruntled political actors” of spreading misinformation to undermine the administration’s reform agenda.
Speaking at the inauguration of the group in Abuja at the weekend, its National Coordinator, Ezinna Chima Duru, said the attacks on President Tinubu were not based on constructive criticism but on “campaigns of calumny” driven by political frustration and personal interests.

Duru said while democratic governance allows for criticism, such engagements must be grounded in facts and aimed at strengthening the system, not destabilising it. He described recent narratives around fuel subsidy removal, economic hardship and insecurity as “deliberately exaggerated” to mislead the public.
Addressing the removal of fuel subsidy, the group argued that the policy was necessary to end what it described as years of large-scale corruption in the petroleum sector. According to Duru, previous administrations failed to dismantle subsidy-related cartels due to their influence, leaving the economy burdened by debt and fiscal pressure.
He said President Tinubu took a “difficult but courageous” decision to eliminate the subsidy, adding that the administration was conscious of the short-term impact on citizens and therefore introduced measures to cushion the effects. Among these, he highlighted the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for transportation as a strategy to reduce fuel costs and support cleaner energy use.
The group also claimed that increased revenue from subsidy savings has improved allocations to states and local governments, enabling them to fund infrastructure projects, pay salaries and support local councils more effectively.
On security, the Legacy Support Group said the current administration inherited complex challenges linked to cross-border terrorism and insurgency, stressing that recent strategic adjustments within the security architecture were beginning to yield positive results.
Commenting on the economy, the group credited the Tinubu administration with assembling what it described as a competent economic team, asserting that economic indicators were showing signs of recovery. It also cited reductions in food prices and improvements in power generation capacity as evidence of progress under the Renewed Hope agenda.
The group further praised government initiatives in youth empowerment and education, including student loan schemes and programmes aimed at supporting National Youth Service Corps members and young entrepreneurs.
In its resolution, the Legacy Support Group urged Nigerians across ethnic, religious and political lines to support the Tinubu administration, saying continuity beyond 2027 would help consolidate ongoing reforms.
“The achievements recorded so far show a clear commitment to national development,” Duru said. “We call on Nigerians to remain united and support policies that secure a better future for the country.”
The group reaffirmed its support for President Tinubu’s leadership and the Renewed Hope vision for Nigeria’s long-term growth.
Legacy Support Group Defends Tinubu’s Reforms, Faults Opposition Over “Misinformation”
News
West African Leaders Move to Deepen Regional Security Cooperation at Accra Conference
West African Leaders Move to Deepen Regional Security Cooperation at Accra Conference
By: Michael Mike
Leaders from several West African countries have agreed to pursue a new, structured approach to regional cooperation aimed at tackling terrorism, cross-border crime, and deepening insecurity across the sub-region.
The commitment was reached at the end of a two-day High-Level Consultative Conference on Regional Cooperation and Security held in Accra from January 29 to 30, 2026.
The meeting was chaired by Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, with Presidents Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone and Joseph Boakai of Liberia leading their respective delegations.
Representatives from Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo also participated.

Discussions at the conference focused on the worsening security situation in West Africa, which leaders described as facing an alarming rise in terrorism and violent extremism. Participants noted that the frequency of attacks and loss of civilian lives now pose a serious threat to regional stability, economic activity, and social cohesion, making coordinated action unavoidable.
The conference followed earlier technical sessions involving Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Security, as well as intelligence chiefs from participating states. Development partners, including the African Union Commission and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), alongside civil society organisations, contributed to the deliberations.
Leaders agreed that existing responses to insecurity have been too fragmented and largely reactive. As a result, the conference resolved to work toward a permanent framework for cooperation that would strengthen collective responses, improve information sharing, and address the structural drivers of insecurity across borders.
A key outcome of the meeting was a renewed emphasis on a human security approach, recognising that military measures alone cannot deliver lasting peace.
The leaders pledged to prioritise governance reforms, job creation, access to education and healthcare, and community-based peacebuilding as part of national and regional security strategies.
On counterterrorism, the conference agreed to enhance intelligence and information sharing, harmonise legal frameworks to support cross-border prosecution of terrorism-related crimes, and expand deradicalisation programmes while upholding human rights standards. Measures to combat trafficking in arms, narcotics, and persons were also highlighted.
To strengthen border security, participants committed to exploring joint operational measures, including possible “hot-pursuit” arrangements through bilateral or multilateral agreements. They further agreed to develop a foundational Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation and security within six months, with Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs tasked with leading the drafting process.
The conference also addressed humanitarian and climate-related challenges, recognising climate change as a factor that intensifies conflict and displacement. Leaders agreed to integrate climate and food security into regional peace planning and to work toward a shared disaster preparedness and humanitarian response framework.
At the close of the meeting, participants agreed to institutionalise the consultative conference as a bi-annual platform and to establish a mechanism for tracking and monitoring the implementation of agreed decisions.
The conference ended with a renewed pledge by regional leaders to translate commitments into concrete actions that safeguard lives, protect livelihoods, and strengthen stability across West Africa.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu led the country’s delegation to the meeting.
West African Leaders Move to Deepen Regional Security Cooperation at Accra Conference
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