The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe (ANPE) has appealed to leaders of the European Union (EU) to restrain US President Donald Trump following his recent threats of military action against Nigeria and his decision to redesignate the country as a “country of particular concern” over alleged religious persecution.
In an electronic statement issued from Paris on Thursday, the association urged the EU to adopt a balanced diplomatic posture and to strengthen its partnership with Nigeria through strategic support in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and other forms of insecurity.
The group described Trump’s remarks as “provocative and dangerous,” warning that such rhetoric could inflame tensions, embolden extremist groups, and undermine the steady progress Nigeria has made in counterterrorism and economic reform.
A statement signed by Dr. Livinus Chukwuemeka Nwosu, ANPE President, and Mrs Aisha M. Bello, a security expert and secretary of the group, urged European leaders to “act with wisdom and restraint” by discouraging any unilateral US action that could destabilise the West African region.
“We call on the European Union, as a global voice of balance and diplomacy, to restrain President Trump from any hostile action or policy escalation against Nigeria. Our country needs constructive engagement, not coercion. The international community should be supporting Nigeria’s security and democratic consolidation, not threatening it,” the statement reads.
The association emphasised that Nigeria’s religious diversity has long been a source of cultural richness, not division, and that framing the country’s security challenges as religious persecution was both misleading and counterproductive.
According to ANPE, terrorism, insurgency, and banditry in Nigeria have affected Muslims and Christians alike, particularly in the country’s northern and central regions.
“The lives of every Nigerian, regardless of faith or ethnicity, are sacred. We reject any narrative that weaponises religion to justify foreign hostility or intervention,” the statement added.
The group urged the EU to back Nigeria’s ongoing counterterrorism campaign through arms supply, intelligence sharing, and joint training programmes that would help strengthen local security institutions.
ANPE said such cooperation should be guided by mutual respect and a shared commitment to peace, while avoiding any direct interference in Nigeria’s domestic affairs.
The statement also highlighted positive developments in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, which the group said reflected the country’s resilience and reform-driven progress.
ANPE assured European investors that their interests remain secure, pointing to increased transparency in the regulatory environment and renewed investor confidence under the current administration.
“European partners investing in Nigeria’s energy sector should have no fear. The government is consolidating reforms to enhance accountability, strengthen local content, and attract long-term investment. Nigeria’s economic revival depends on stable global partnerships, not geopolitical tension,” the association said.
ANPE described Trump’s recent designation and threats as an “unhelpful distraction” that risks reversing hard-won gains in regional peacebuilding and counterinsurgency.
It noted that Nigeria has been working closely with its neighbours, including Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, to suppress terrorism across the Lake Chad Basin, while maintaining robust diplomatic relations with Western allies.
The association commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for maintaining focus on national security, infrastructure, and energy development despite global pressures, urging Nigerians not to be swayed by external provocations.
“We have a duty to defend our sovereignty and dignity. President Tinubu’s government is building institutions that can protect citizens and restore lasting peace,” the group added.
The statement concluded with a call for the EU to engage both Washington and Abuja in sustained dialogue to prevent escalation and to channel global cooperation toward stabilising West Africa.
“Europe has always been a trusted partner to Nigeria. We are confident that the EU’s leadership will help ensure that diplomacy, not division, guides the global response to Nigeria’s internal challenges. Together, we can defeat terrorism and preserve peace — but only through respect, dialogue, and partnership,” the association said.
