Ex-COAS Dambazau: U.S has hidden agenda for seeking military base in Nigeria

Former Chief of Army Staff and ex-Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Abdulrahman Dambazau, has accused the United States of pursuing a self-serving agenda in Nigeria, claiming Washington’s recent warnings over alleged Christian persecution are a pretext to establish a new military base in the country.

Speaking at the 7th Annual Lecture of the Just Friends Club of Nigeria (JFCN) in Abuja, Dambazau said the U.S. “only protects its own interests” and warned Nigerians not to be deceived by its interventions.

He also blamed Nigeria’s persistent insecurity on a lack of national cohesion, saying ethnic, regional, and religious divisions continue to weaken the fight against terrorism and insurgency.

Dambazau dismissed U.S. claims of “Christian genocide” in Nigeria as propaganda, noting that Boko Haram’s violence has heavily affected Muslim-majority areas such as Borno and Yobe.

He called for comprehensive reforms across the country’s security sector to ensure coordination among the military, police, intelligence, and civil institutions.

Earlier, JFCN President Fred Ohwahwa urged Nigerians to take responsibility for solving the country’s security challenges, warning that foreign interference often comes with hidden motives.