By Sunday Apah
The South-South Professional & Transparency Initiatives (SSPTI) has expressed serious concern over what it perceives as a coordinated effort by select foreign media outlets, in collaboration with INTERPOL, to portray Nigeria as a global leader in criminal activity, particularly in cybercrime and other social issues.
In light of this situation, the group is urging the Nigerian government, particularly the ministries of foreign affairs and diplomatic relations, to address and rectify this misleading narrative that aims to undermine the country’s standing on the international stage.
The alarm was raised following a recent publication by U.S. researcher Matthew La Lime, which inaccurately labeled a non-existent group, ‘The Black Axe Confraternity,’ as one of the most criminally active and violent organizations worldwide. The SSPTI has condemned these claims as defamatory, baseless, and biased.
In a statement released on October 29, 2024, by Dr. Ugochukwu Alozie (Chairman) and Engr. Kayode Ayomide (Secretary), the organization criticized the report as lacking credibility.
They noted that La Lime, who published his findings through the Africa Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., failed to provide any verifiable evidence or names of individuals linked to these alleged crimes.
The SSPTI is calling on international partners and potential investors to disregard this report, which they believe is a misguided attempt by the researcher to tarnish Nigeria’s reputation. They emphasize that the publication is devoid of factual support.
“Our attention has been drawn to a publication dated October 29, 2024, authored by Matthew La Lime, which has circulated widely. We want to firmly state that this publication appears to be a product of the author’s imagination,” the statement reads.
They further assert that the publication lacks the essential elements of an objective and balanced report, indicating that La Lime acted unprofessionally in pursuit of profit and fame.
The SSPTI added, “It is important to clarify that the group he attributes these crimes to, The Black Axe Confraternity, is fictional and has not existed for some time. Therefore, it cannot be held responsible for the activities he claims.”
They also defended the capabilities of Nigerian law enforcement, stating, “Our country is proud of having one of the most effective security forces on the continent. The Nigeria Police Force is recognized for its efforts in combating crime, particularly cybercrime.”
The organization expressed disappointment that a respected institution like the Africa Center for Strategic Studies would allow an unqualified researcher to publish such unsubstantiated and damaging claims.
“We reaffirm our commitment to protect our nation’s integrity and will resist any foreign media attempts to undermine our security agencies by misrepresenting the level of violence and crime in Nigeria to the international community,” they stated.
In conclusion, the SSPTI called on the Nigerian government to investigate those responsible for this negative narrative and hold them accountable under international law for their efforts to defame the country.
