Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), has faulted President Donald Trump’s directive for the US military to prepare for action in Nigeria targeting Islamist militant groups, calling it a result of American intelligence failure.
Issa-Onilu said Trump’s recent accusations against Nigerian government failure to protect Christians claim stems from flawed intelligence assessments by the United States.
He spoke on Monday during the November edition of the National Joint Security Press Briefing held at the NOA headquarters in Abuja.
Acknowledging Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges—including terrorism, banditry, and criminal violence, he emphasized that no ethnic or religious group is specifically targeted.
According to him, many of these conflicts arise from complex land disputes, religious tensions, and socio-economic problems.
He assured Nigerians that the military and security agencies remain fully engaged in combating insecurity, highlighting recent leadership changes aimed at improving operational effectiveness.
He emphasized Nigeria’s robust efforts, pointing to the lifting of some sanctions and continued arms support from the US as signs of progress.
He criticized US intelligence failures in past conflicts, saying, “This is not the first time that America’s intelligence has failed. It failed them in Iraq, where they later apologized for the absence of weapons of mass destruction. It failed in Libya and other cases. I believe this is another failure in their intelligence apparatus.”
He also reported positive developments in Nigeria’s security landscape, citing a 12% reduction in fatalities from violent crimes and more efficient security operations countrywide.
“September posed security challenges, but closer coordination among the Nigerian Army, Police, DSS, Immigration Service, and other agencies led to improved interdiction efforts and fewer casualties in October.
“Fatalities from violent incidents dropped from 240 to 185 between the months, attributed to enhanced joint operations, better intelligence sharing, and cross-border interventions”.
Issa-Onilu praised the collaborative synergy between the Nigeria Immigration Service and Tactical Surveillance Support (TSS), alongside coordinated efforts from military and police forces, as critical to these improvements.
The briefing further highlighted successful anti-corruption efforts.
In October, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) received 44 petitions, concluded 15 investigations, filed five new cases, and secured two convictions.
Funds recovered are being redirected towards public service projects including student loans and credit schemes.
Under new leadership, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered billions of Naira and foreign currencies over the past two years, reinvesting assets into government service delivery.
Law enforcement activities in October also included dismantling 40 criminal syndicates, seizing over 70 containers of counterfeit goods, prosecuting 251 suspects, and rescuing 76 human trafficking victims.
The Federal Road Safety Corps reported an 11% decline in road crash fatalities, crediting intensified public safety campaigns.Issa-Onilu emphasized that growing public trust and civic engagement are essential to sustaining security gains.
The National Watch Agency (NWA) expanded its outreach to over 32 million Nigerians via digital platforms and grassroots partnerships, helping reduce misinformation by 40% through effective fact-checking.
He concluded by urging Nigerians to foster trust as the nation’s strongest security asset, encouraging cooperation with security forces and verifying information before sharing it publicly. “Together, we build trust, peace, and Nigeria,” he said.
Issa-Onilu also acknowledged the sacrifices of security personnel and thanked the media for their crucial role in promoting national safety through responsible reporting.
Besides, Dele Oyewole, Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC, highlighted the commission’s role in asset recovery, explaining that most recovered funds are returned to victims—including individuals, corporations, and governments—based on court rulings.
He said:”Not all recovered funds go directly to the federal government.The court determines distribution, with significant portions returned to victims.”
He added that over 700 duplexes recovered from a top banker have been handed over to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, awaiting public allocation.