The Republican Mayor of Blanco City, Texas, Mike Arnold, has firmly denied allegations that the Nigerian government is sponsoring Boko Haram, describing the claims as unfounded and misleading.
Mayor Arnold made the statement during a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, aligning with Nigerian political analyst and former presidential aide Reno Omokri, who also rejected recent comments by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz implying that Nigeria’s government could be aiding the terrorist group.
Ted Cruz Accusations Dismissed as Baseless
The controversy follows a claim made by Senator Cruz, alleging possible Nigerian government involvement in terrorism. However, Omokri challenged Cruz to publicly name any Nigerian official connected to Boko Haram, insisting that the U.S. lawmaker is misinformed.
“If anyone believes Nigerian officials are facilitating terror, they should name them and provide proof,” Omokri said.
He also dismissed allegations of Christian genocide in Nigeria, explaining that genocide involves deliberate state-sponsored action, which is not the case in Nigeria.
“The claim is not true. A genocide requires a deliberate act or policy by a state actor targeting a specific group,” he emphasized.
Boko Haram Deradicalisation Camps Clarified
In response to concerns about so-called “repentant Boko Haram” camps, Mayor Arnold clarified that these facilities do not harbor terrorists but are deradicalisation centres for victims—mostly children abducted and brainwashed by Boko Haram fighters.
Omokri reinforced this, stating:
“These are not camps for actual terrorists or commanders. They are centres for children and young people forced to join Boko Haram. They are victims, not perpetrators.”
JNI Leader: Christian Genocide Claims Are Dangerous
Also speaking at the event, Professor Khalid Aliyu, Secretary-General of Jama’at Nasril Islam (JNI), condemned the narrative of a targeted Christian genocide in Nigeria.
“It sounds strange and dangerous to make such an unverified claim,” Prof. Aliyu said. “Shifting the narrative from criminality to religion can create unnecessary tension and deepen our national challenges.”
He urged both local and international media to avoid sensationalism and base their reports on verified facts.
Omokri Blames Obama-Era Policies for Boko Haram Rise
Omokri further attributed the rise of Boko Haram to certain foreign policy decisions made under the Obama administration.
“Because of policies unleashed by the Obama administration, we’ve had security issues in Nigeria. But we are fighting them and doing the best we can,” he said. “I believe Senator Cruz means well, but he doesn’t have the right information.”
Significant Drop in Terrorism Deaths in Nigeria
Citing data from the Global Terrorism Index, Omokri noted a major decline in terrorism-related deaths in Nigeria:
- 2015: 7,512 deaths
- 2024: 565 deaths
This, he said, is evidence that Nigeria’s security agencies have made substantial progress in combating terrorism and improving national security.
