The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic human rights organisation, has warned the Bola Tinubu-led government against allowing U.S. intervention in Nigeria’s security affairs.
MURIC warned that such could expose the country to the kind of crisis currently facing Venezuela.
The group’s founder and executive director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, in a statement on Monday cautioned that recent developments in Venezuela should serve as a timely lesson for Nigeria.
United States forces carried out a raid in Venezuela on Saturday during which President Nicolás Maduro was captured and taken to the United States.
Subsequently, President Donald Trump announced that the US may take temporary control of Venezuela whose crude oil reserve is estimated at over 303 billion barrels.
MURIC said the episode demonstrates the risks associated with inviting foreign powers into domestic political and security matters.
It further argued that claims used to justify foreign intervention, including allegations related to hard drugs, mask underlying economic interests, particularly control of natural resources.
The group also criticised what it described as a “false narrative” of Christian genocide in Nigeria, warning that such claims could be used to justify foreign invasion.
It noted that some prominent Nigerians, including religious and political figures, had previously warned against such narratives.
“It is time to listen to well-meaning Nigerians who warned earlier that America was only using religion and the false narrative of Christian genocide to penetrate Nigeria for the exploitation of our resources,” the group said.
The group cited recent attacks in parts of the country, including Kwara, Katsina, Kebbi, Borno and Niger States, where it claims Muslims have constituted the majority of victims.
It warned that individuals and groups allegedly promoting the narrative of Christian persecution and calling for foreign intervention, were “selling their country to Western imperialists” and risked exposing all Nigerians, Christians and Muslims alike to grave consequences.
It said while America has the right to pursue its interests, Nigeria should not become a casualty of such ambitions, urging citizens to safeguard the country’s oil and mineral resources.
“Beware of turning over our milk and honey to foreigners. It will be too late to cry if this warning goes unheeded,” Akintola said, stressing that the warning was issued in the interest of national sovereignty and unity.
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