Nigeria Making Real Gains Against Insecurity, Tinubu’s U.S. Envoy Tells Congress

Nigeria’s representative in the United States, Dr. Taiwo Ajibolu Balofin, has told the U.S. Congress that recent killings and kidnappings in the country are being wrongly portrayed as religious persecution. He insisted that available data shows the violence is largely driven by criminal banditry rather than faith-based attacks.

Balofin, who serves as Chairman of the APC USA and spokesperson for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in the U.S. made the clarification on Thursday while testifying before the House Subcommittee on Africa, chaired by Rep. Chris Smith.

He began by acknowledging the extensive suffering experienced by both Christian and Muslim communities, noting that even members of his own family have lost relatives, homes and places of worship. However, he stressed that Congress “deserves the full truth, not a partial picture.”

Balofin outlined four key realities shaping Nigeria’s current security situation:

1. Violence now driven by criminality, not religion
He said findings by respected organisations, including the International Crisis Group, ACLED, the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Council on Foreign Relations, show that insecurity in the North-West and North-Central has shifted from Boko Haram’s religious insurgency to criminal activities such as kidnapping-for-ransom, extortion and land-related conflicts.
He added that over 60 per cent of abductions recorded this year in Zamfara, Kaduna and Katsina occurred in predominantly Muslim communities.

2. Tinubu administration intensifying security operations
Balofin stated that the government is addressing insecurity “on an unprecedented scale” through increased troop deployments, enhanced aerial operations using U.S.-supplied Super Tucano aircraft, and expanded peace and stabilisation efforts, which he said have led to the rescue of thousands of hostages.
These measures, he noted, have contributed to a 28 per cent drop in communal-violence deaths compared to last year.

3. Risk of politicising insecurity ahead of 2027 elections
He warned that some political actors may attempt to exploit ongoing insecurity for political gain and urged Congress to rely on verified, multi-source reporting rather than partisan narratives.

4. Sanctions would undermine progress
Balofin cautioned against broad punitive actions by the U.S., arguing that such measures would weaken joint security efforts and provide propaganda advantages to extremists. “Partnership, not sanctions, saves the most lives fastest,” he said.

To strengthen cooperation, Balofin proposed three measures: Establishing a U.S.–Nigeria Religious Freedom and Security Working Group, Expanding USAID-backed community resilience projects, which have reduced violence in Southern Kaduna, Creating a transparent Victims of Violence Trust Fund to support affected Christians and Muslims equally

He concluded by commending Chairman Smith for his longstanding advocacy for persecuted Christians and urged Congress to support a balanced understanding of Nigeria’s challenges while reinforcing U.S.–Nigeria relations.

Speaking on behalf of President Tinubu, he said, “220 million Nigerians simply want peace.”