Growing Concerns Over U.S. Threats and Nigeria’s Response
Many Nigerians, including diplomats, lawyers, and regional groups, have expressed strong disapproval of American President Donald Trump’s threat of a military invasion of the country over alleged persecution of Christians.
Diplomats who spoke to Daily Trust yesterday emphasized that any military action by the U.S. would be unwarranted, urging the federal government to address the ongoing insecurity in the nation. They also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint ambassadors to represent Nigeria’s interests abroad.
President Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, shared on X that his principal was well aware of the situation unfolding in America. He mentioned that the president had previously informed the new service chiefs about what Nigerians expected from them.
The Presidency has also announced that Tinubu will meet with the American president in the coming days to discuss the allegations against Nigeria.
Trump had on Friday redesignated Nigeria as a country of particular concern and warned that “if the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing’, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
He also instructed the U.S. Department of War to prepare for possible action. Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Secretary of War, confirmed this on X on Saturday.
This threat followed allegations made by an American lawmaker, Ted Cruz, in an X post on October 7, stating that 50,000 Christians had been killed since 2009, with 2,000 schools and 18,000 churches destroyed by what he called “Islamist” armed groups. However, Cruz did not provide sources for his claims.
In response, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rejected Trump’s description of Nigeria, insisting that the country remains a democracy grounded in constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and belief.
According to him, Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty. He noted that since 2023, his administration had maintained open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike, addressing security challenges affecting citizens across faiths and regions.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians,” Tinubu stated.
The Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said: “The Federal Government of Nigeria notes the recent remarks by U.S. President Donald J. Trump alleging large-scale killings of Christians in Nigeria and calling for the country’s designation as a ‘Country of Particular Concern.'”
While Nigeria appreciates global concern for human rights and religious freedom, these claims do not reflect the situation on the ground. Nigerians of all faiths have long lived, worked, and worshipped together peacefully.
Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria remains committed to fighting terrorism, strengthening interfaith harmony, and protecting the lives and rights of all its people.
Nigeria will continue to engage constructively with the Government of the United States to deepen mutual understanding of regional dynamics and the country’s ongoing peace and security efforts.
Muslims Also Being Killed – Middle Belt Forum
Speaking to Daily Trust yesterday, the president of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr Bitrus Pogu, highlighted that Muslims, just like Christians, are also victims of terrorist attacks in the country. He said the U.S. threat was a wake-up call for the Nigerian government to defeat the terrorists.
He added that the U.S. has not issued any threat of military action but placed Nigeria as a country of special concern, which could lead to sanctions or interventions to ensure the government takes the right actions.
He also pointed out that there are saboteurs within the security forces and that there is a lack of political will to tackle the insurgency effectively.
ACF Opposes Invasion, Says Nigerians of All Faiths Being Killed
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) cautioned against foreign invasion of a sovereign African country by the U.S., noting that Nigerians of all faiths are being killed by non-state actors in the country.
With its vast intelligence resources, the U.S. should know better. The ACF urged the federal government to focus on assisting the Nigerian military rather than targeting specific religious groups.
“To think that someone, anyone, will come to protect Christians only is to engage in a quixotic mission,” said Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, National Publicity Secretary of ACF.
The ACF welcomed the federal government’s response, stating that it “deserves the support of all concerned.” It further urged Nigerians to engage in deep reflections over the matter and support the government as it responds to the issue.
No Foreign Power Has Right to Invade a Sovereign Nation – Afenifere
The National Publicity Secretary of the pan-Yoruba sociopolitical organisation, Afenifere, Justice Faloye, emphasized that no foreign power has the right to invade another sovereign nation.
He implored the Tinubu administration to prevent foreign powers from provoking religious or tribal conflicts by restructuring Nigeria according to the 2014 Confab to ensure equity and peace.
Genocide Narrative Intended to Destabilise Nigeria
A lawyer in Calabar, Cross River State, Okoi Obono-Obla, urged the federal government to be vigilant against external manipulation. He accused the U.S. of deploying dubious diplomacy backed by arrogant militarism to inflame divisions within Nigeria under the guise of protecting Christians.
He said the so-called “Christian genocide” narrative being pushed by Washington lacks logic, facts, and context and is intended to destabilize the country.
Diplomats Speak
A former Nigerian Ambassador to Sudan, Suleiman Dahiru, described the threat of invasion by Trump as provocative. He said the designation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern could strain diplomatic relations and disrupt Nigeria’s access to critical military support.
He rejected the claims of religious persecution in Nigeria, saying, “We do not have religious crisis in Nigeria. There is nobody that can be prevented from practising whatever religion he/she wants to practice.”
Foreign Lies Shouldn’t Divide Us – Sharia Council
The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria, Kaduna State Chapter, condemned the U.S.’s decision to classify Nigeria as a country of concern over alleged persecution of Christians.
Engineer Hassan AbdulRahman, Secretary of the Council, in a statement, said the move by the Trump administration reflects a “one-sided narrative” that ignores the complex realities driving violence across Nigeria.
He urged Nigerians not to allow foreign “lies to divide us. Through understanding, dialogue, and cooperation, Nigeria can overcome its challenges and build a peaceful future for all.
What U.S. Ought to Do – Kwankwaso
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) in the last general elections, asked the U.S. to assist the Nigerian authorities with better cutting-edge technology to tackle insecurity rather than posing a threat that could further polarise the country.
Sever Diplomatic Ties if Threat Is Not Withdrawn – Gumi
An Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, condemned Trump’s threat as an insult to Nigeria’s sovereignty and called for an immediate diplomatic response.
For Trump to threaten a sovereign country with military attack is a profound disrespect to our authority, but we can rise above it, he wrote.
Gumi advised the federal government to summon the U.S. ambassador and demand a retraction, warning that failure to do so should lead to severing diplomatic ties.
Oba of Lagos Hits Trump
The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, slammed Trump over the allegation of Christians’ genocide in Nigeria.
Akiolu described the comment as incorrect and capable of creating unnecessary tension. Speaking in his palace after marking his 82nd birthday, Akiolu said Nigerians of different faiths had co-existed peacefully for decades.
He said criminal activities and terrorism in parts of the country were not directed at any religion but were acts of misguided individuals and groups.
CAN, CUPP Urge Action on Killings
The chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states, Reverend John Joseph Hayab, urged the federal government to take action against terrorism.
In an interview with Leadership newspaper, Hayab said that was the core message of Trump.
“I think we are twisting this thing. There is no threat to attack Nigeria. The threat is to come to Nigeria and get rid of the terrorists, not to attack Nigeria. Unless we want to just use this to inflame a misconception.”
Also speaking in Abuja yesterday, the national secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ameh, said the CUPP would welcome foreign assistance if the federal government fails to end killings.
Muslims, Christians Suffered Attacks – IMN
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), in a statement by Professor Abdullahi Danladi, said, “In reality, both Muslims and Christians have been victims of insecurity, banditry, terrorism, and government repression in equal measure. Villages in the predominantly Muslim North have been wiped out by armed groups just as churches and Christian communities have suffered attacks elsewhere.”
These tragedies are not the result of an Islamic war against Christianity, but the consequence of a failed political order that thrives on corruption, poverty, injustice, and impunity.
Fani-Kayode: We’ll Resist Invasion
A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, warned that Nigerians would resist any attempt by the U.S. to invade the country.
In a post on X, Fani-Kayode said Trump was trying to provoke a crisis by branding Nigerians as killers of Christians.
He said Nigeria should not tolerate being treated as subordinates by Western powers.
Trump Doesn’t Care About Nigerian Christians – Sowore
A former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, warned that the threat by Trump should not be celebrated.
He said: “The latest threat by U.S. President Donald Trump @POTUS to launch military action in Nigeria, allegedly to protect Christians, may sound appealing to some. Still, history has shown this to be perilous,” Sowore wrote.
He noted that the U.S. and its allies had a long record of military interventions that leave nations more unstable.
Tinubu to Meet Trump
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, in a post on X on Saturday night said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would meet with Trump in the coming days to discuss the allegations of a Christian genocide in Nigeria.
Both President @officialABAT and President @realDonaldTrump have shared interests in the fight against insurgency and all forms of terrorism against humanity.