PeacePro criticized the U.S. Congress for planned sanctions against Nigeria, claiming it aids Boko Haram’s propaganda. They emphasized that this framing misrepresents Nigeria’s complex security issues and pointed out the hypocrisy of the Congress given domestic violence statistics. PeacePro called for national unity against divisive external narratives.
The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) criticized the U.S. Congress for its plan to impose sanctions on Nigeria due to alleged Christian persecution. Abdulrazaq Hamzat, Executive Director of PeacePro, labeled this action as reckless and misleading, stating it could unintentionally support terrorist groups like Boko Haram by reinforcing their narrative of a governmental war against Christians.
Hamzat emphasized that Boko Haram and similar organizations have historically exploited religious divides to justify violence and recruit members. He argued that characterizing Nigeria’s security issues as a religious conflict gives credibility to Boko Haram’s propaganda, which is harmful to societal unity.
In his statement, PeacePro noted the alarming disparity in violence statistics, highlighting that over 216,506 people were killed by gun violence in the U.S. from 2020 to 2022, significantly outweighing Nigeria’s reported 55,910 deaths from violence between October 2019 and September 2023.
Hamzat questioned the U.S. Congress’s focus on Nigeria when facing its own domestic violence crisis, suggesting this inconsistency points to a political motive behind the sanctions. He urged Congress to address its internal gun violence issues first if the aim is to tackle human rights abuses.
PeacePro insisted that the Nigerian government is engaged in a complex fight against terrorism and organized crime. They warned that external interventions based on false religious narratives would undermine Nigeria’s efforts and offer terrorists an advantage.
The organization urged the Nigerian government to reject the sanctions and foster international relationships grounded in mutual respect. Furthermore, it called on Nigerian leaders to avoid divisive rhetoric to promote national unity amidst external pressures.
PeacePro has condemned the U.S. Congress’s planned sanctions on Nigeria over alleged religious persecution, arguing that it may inadvertently aid terrorist propaganda. The organization underscores the importance of recognizing Nigeria’s complex security challenges without promoting misleading narratives. They advocate for maintaining national unity and urge Nigerian leadership to reject the sanctions while appealing for support focused on mutual respect.
Original Source: dailynigerian.com
