Days after saying that he “feels perfectly safe in Nigeria”, ex-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has come under fire for “downplaying” the security situation in the West African country.
In reports that Johnson, in an address at the 2025 Imo State Economic Summit in Owerri on December 4, had declared that Nigeria is safe, “contrary” to the negative reports he read before his visit.
Addressing the summit, Johnson said, “I want you to know that when I decided to come to Owerri, I read some things, and there were people saying, ‘There may be some security problems in Nigeria.’ Have you heard that? And I said, ‘Well, I am going to go anyway.’ And let me ask you: do you feel safe here today in this conference? Yes, we all feel safe. And I feel perfectly safe.”
However, the former British PM’s comment has been greeted with outrage, with the American Veterans of Igbo Descent, AVID, accusing him of mocking victims of the insecurity in Nigeria.
AVID, an association of retired and serving United States military personnel of Igbo origin, in a statement released on Monday by its President, Chief Sylvester Onyia, described Johnson’s comments as disappointing.
AVID challenged Johnson to travel by land without security escorts to different states in Nigeria before commenting on the security situation in the country.
AVID informed Johnson that barely 48 hours before the he made the “provocative” remarks in Owerri, bandits had abducted 18 passengers in an Imo/Abia border community.
AVID further asked, “If indeed that the South-East is as peaceful as Johnson claims, how come Gov. Alex Otti’s advance team was attacked two days before that day?
The American Veterans of Igbo Descent alleged that Johnson was hired to launder Nigeria’s image by countering the commentary about alleged Christian genocide and insecurity in the country, in the wake of United States President Donald Trump’s threat of military action in the country.
“How much were you paid to make such a disgraceful comment?” AVID asked the ex-British PM.
The United Kingdom recently issued a travel advisory, warning citizens against travelling to Nigeria because of insecurity.