The Federal Government has declared that many of the terrorists responsible for ongoing killings and attacks across Nigeria are foreign nationals who have infiltrated the country through its porous borders.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume made this assertion on Sunday, February 22, 2026, while addressing the First Plenary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria in Abuja.
Drawing from security intelligence reports, Akume highlighted that numerous suspects arrested in connection with recent violent incidents do not speak English or fluent Hausa, the languages commonly spoken in the affected northern and north-central regions but instead communicate fluently in French.
Key points from Akume’s statement:
“Do we speak French in Nigeria? No,” he asked rhetorically, using the language evidence to underscore foreign involvement.
While acknowledging that groups such as Boko Haram originated within Nigeria, he clarified that the perpetrators currently operating from forests and rural communities, particularly in areas like parts of Niger State are predominantly foreigners.
“Those who are doing the killings, most of them are from outside the country. I say what I know to be true based on security reports,” Akume stated emphatically.
He described insecurity as a global phenomenon, not exclusive to Nigeria, even affecting advanced nations, and pointed to ongoing international cooperation, including recent engagements with the United States and the acquisition of additional military hardware such as drones from Turkey to enhance counter-terrorism capabilities.
Akume also addressed earlier proposals to integrate repentant terrorists into the armed forces, confirming that such ideas were rejected and never implemented under the current administration.
He appealed to religious leaders, civil society, and other stakeholders to approach the security crisis objectively, while noting that the challenge predates the Tinubu-led government.
The remarks come amid continued violence in northern and north-central Nigeria, including banditry in forest areas, attacks in rural communities, and military operations targeting insurgents in states such as Borno, Yobe, Sokoto, Niger, and Kwara.
While the government emphasizes external infiltration as a major factor, critics often cite internal contributors including local recruitment, socioeconomic grievances, governance gaps, and weak border management as playing significant roles in sustaining the insecurity.
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