A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adamu Garba, has thrown his weight behind U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent assertion that a genocide is taking place in Nigeria, citing the alarming rate of violent attacks and mass killings across the country.
Speaking in a video interview with Trust TV, shared via Facebook on Wednesday, Garba said the scale of violence, particularly in rural areas, fits the global definition of genocide. His comments come in response to the United States’ designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged large-scale killings of Christians.
Garba recalled that in 2014, when the APC was still in opposition, some of its members visited the White House to seek international assistance over what they described then as “Christian genocide” following the Chibok girls’ abduction.
“In 2014, the APC, then in opposition, went to the White House seeking help over the same Christian genocide issue that arose from the Chibok girls’ incident. This is established,” Garba said.
He explained that despite Nigeria’s ongoing partnership with the United States in counterterrorism efforts — including the purchase of $346 million worth of U.S. weapons and training opportunities for Nigerian military personnel — the violence has persisted.
“The U.S. has been one of our key partners in fighting terrorism. Under the United Nations Convention on Counterterrorism, the U.S. has the global mandate to protect nations facing acts of terror through the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine,” he noted.
Garba urged the Nigerian government not to dismiss the U.S. concern but to engage diplomatically and demonstrate readiness to collaborate in combating terrorism.
“We should show willingness to partner with the U.S. to eliminate the threat of terrorism, not condemn a helping hand. We can negotiate with them responsibly,” he said.
He emphasized that both Christians and Muslims have suffered equally from the wave of violence, calling for acknowledgment of the tragedy in its entirety.
“Yes, they call it Christian genocide, but we can justify to them that it’s not just Christians — Muslims are also victims. People are being killed in their homes, in their villages, defenceless and unprotected. What else can we call it?” Garba asked.
Describing the killings as “pure genocide,” the APC stalwart lamented the widespread destruction and loss of lives in several northern states.
“Several villages in Katsina destroyed. Several in Sokoto gone. Villages in Zamfara attacked daily. This has been happening for years. For God’s sake, it’s pure genocide,” he said.
Garba’s remarks add to the growing debate following President Trump’s statement and the U.S. government’s position on Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation.
He concluded by urging the Nigerian government to face the reality of the crisis, acknowledge the scale of the killings, and work more closely with international partners to restore peace and protect citizens across all regions.
— Hobnob News
