Fresh trouble appears to be brewing for the Federal Government amidst the ongoing diplomatic tension between Nigeria and the United States, as the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has backed Washington’s recent designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), describing it as a justified move in view of the persistent killings and worsening insecurity across the country.
The Forum, in a statement issued by its National President, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, said the U.S. decision is a wake-up call to the Nigerian government to take full responsibility and show genuine commitment to ending the cycle of bloodshed that has continued to devastate communities, especially in the Middle Belt, North-West, and North-Central regions.
According to Dr. Pogu, the CPC tag is not an attack on Nigeria’s sovereignty but an international acknowledgment of the government’s failure to protect its citizens from mass killings, kidnappings, and terror-related violence.
“The truth is that the killings have gone on for too long, and the world has been watching. If the U.S. decision can compel our government to act decisively and end these atrocities, then it should be welcomed,” he said.
He accused successive administrations of lacking the political will to prosecute those behind the escalating violence, insisting that security agencies often treat the matter with negligence while innocent lives are lost daily.
“We have leaders who know what to do but are not doing it. From Benue to Plateau, Kaduna, Niger, and Zamfara, communities are attacked, yet the government appears helpless or indifferent. That’s why the world is reacting,” the MBF president stated.
The Forum further argued that the U.S. declaration should serve as a catalyst for Nigeria to strengthen its internal security framework, identify and prosecute sponsors of terrorism, and improve intelligence sharing among security agencies.
While many Nigerians have criticised U.S. President Donald Trump for what they described as an “overreach” in his recent comments about Nigeria’s internal affairs, the MBF maintained that the CPC declaration reflects the grim reality on the ground, one that requires urgent and honest reforms rather than diplomatic defensiveness.
As the Federal Government continues to downplay foreign criticisms, the Middle Belt Forum warned that unless concrete steps are taken to restore peace and justice, Nigeria risks further international isolation and domestic instability.
