By DEJI ABDULWAHAB

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has urged U.S. President, Donald Trump, to collaborate with Nigeria in tackling terrorism through intelligence sharing and critical support.

The Council, which condemned the U.S. decision to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” warned Washington against any attempt to invade Nigeria’s sovereign territory.

NSCIA Secretary General, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, made the appeal at a news conference in Abuja on Sunday.

He recalled that the designation was lifted by the previous U.S. administration in 2023 when America acknowledged Nigeria’s complex security reality.

Oloyede described the re-imposition of the designation as an act of political cynicism comparable to that imposed on China and Russia.

He said the decision was not based on new facts but driven by political lobbyists, adding that it undermined the true meaning of religious freedom.

According to him, genuine friendship requires collaboration, intelligence sharing, and technical support; not the use of Nigeria’s security crisis as a pretext for interference.

“We urge every nation of goodwill to assist Nigeria sincerely and not exploit our challenges under the guise of protection,” Oloyede said.

He stressed that Nigeria remains a sovereign nation capable of defending itself, rejecting any attempt to portray the conflict as government-led genocide.

“If the aim is to protect Nigerians, then cooperation with our armed forces is the right path, not unilateral intervention,” he added.

Oloyede warned that selective protection of one religious group would only deepen mistrust and misrepresent U.S. intentions among Nigerian Muslims.

He noted that Muslims would prefer to believe in America’s sincerity, urging President Trump to support Nigeria with logistics, equipment, and intelligence instead.

Speaking on Sharia law, Oloyede explained that Nigeria operates three constitutionally recognised legal systems — common law, Sharia law, and customary law.

He emphasised that Nigeria, as a sovereign nation, has the right to determine its own legal frameworks without external interference.

“There is no Christian genocide or Muslim genocide in Nigeria. The real tragedy is poverty, climate change, and criminality,” Oloyede stated.

He said global actors should resist attempts to exploit Nigeria’s insecurity for geopolitical advantage.

The NSCIA called on the Nigerian government to intensify efforts to protect all citizens and dismantle terrorist networks across the country.

It also urged the authorities to expose those spreading divisive narratives and confront foreign lobbyists working against Nigeria’s image.

Oloyede commended the government’s resolve to engage the U.S. and other partners with dignity in the fight against terrorism and banditry.

He appealed to President Trump to retract his remarks branding Nigeria a “disgraced country” and instead offer credible intelligence and logistical assistance.

He said genuine assistance must come through partnership, not unilateral actions that could further fragment the Nigerian nation. (NAN)