By Ade Iyamoye
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Dr. George Akume, has revealed that many of the terrorists responsible for killings and insecurity in Nigeria are foreign nationals operating from outside the country.
Speaking at the 2026 First Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria in Abuja, Akume said security reports indicate that several arrested suspects do not speak English or indigenous Nigerian languages fluently but communicate mainly in French.
“Many of these people who have been arrested don’t speak English. They speak very poor Hausa, but they speak French. Do we speak French in Nigeria? No,” he stated, adding that while Boko Haram has local roots, a significant number of bandits and killers operating in forests in states such as Niger are from outside Nigeria’s borders.
The SGF disclosed that the Federal Government is working closely with international partners, including the United States, following Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern.
He referenced recent drone strikes against terrorist elements in Sokoto as evidence that government is not idle in tackling insecurity.
According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to Turkey was largely to procure advanced military hardware, including drones, to strengthen Nigeria’s technological capacity in combating terrorism. He also revealed that 50,000 additional police personnel have been recruited to boost internal security operations.
Akume acknowledged that insecurity remains a serious challenge but insisted it is a global phenomenon, not peculiar to Nigeria. He urged Nigerians, particularly religious leaders whom he described as the “moral conscience of the nation,” to engage issues holistically and avoid narratives that could erode public confidence.
The SGF further noted that illegal mining has contributed significantly to insecurity, as criminal groups exploit mineral resources to fund violent activities. He said the Federal Government has tightened mining regulations and strengthened enforcement to curb abuse in the sector.
Reaffirming government’s commitment to the welfare of citizens, Akume said democracy remains “government of the people, by the people, and for the people,” stressing that legitimate power is derived from the citizenry and must serve the collective good.
He assured the bishops of continued partnership between the Federal Government and the Catholic Church in promoting peace, social cohesion, youth empowerment and national development.
