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  • Trump’s false alarm on Nigeria

    Trump’s false alarm on Nigeria

    SIR: The hypocrisy could not be more glaring. For decades, the United States and its allies have shaped, funded, or ignored conflicts that have devastated entire regions, yet they continue to lecture the world on morality and human rights. Now, former President Donald Trump adds a new layer to this irony by endorsing the baseless narrative of a so-called “Christian genocide” in Nigeria.

    Such a claim is not only ignorant—it is incendiary. It distorts the realities of a complex nation where Muslims and Christians have coexisted, often under strain but with remarkable resilience. Even prominent global Christian leaders, well aware of Nigeria’s nuanced landscape, have expressed surprise at Trump’s reckless characterization.

    This rhetoric does more than misinform; it endangers lives. It feeds a dangerous Western narrative that portrays Africa as a perpetual battleground of faiths, a trope that has long served political agendas rather than the pursuit of peace. The truth is far more intricate. Nigeria’s challenges—security breakdowns, corruption, and economic inequality—are driven by governance failures and socio-political factors, not by religious persecution.

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    By amplifying falsehoods, Trump and his echo chambers once again reveal the double standards at the heart of Western foreign discourse. They weaponise misinformation to divide and dominate, deflecting attention from the chaos their own policies have unleashed across the globe—from the Middle East to the Sahel.

    If the world truly seeks justice and harmony, it must look beyond the propaganda and hold accountable those who profit from discord while pretending to defend faith and freedom. The time has come to unmask the hypocrisy and confront the truth.

    • Aliyu Aliyu Dogondaji,  Shehu Shagari University of Education, Sokoto.
  • Future-proofing Nigeria against Trump’s bombast

    Future-proofing Nigeria against Trump’s bombast

    • By Lekan Olayiwola

    The urgent task before President Bola Tinubu in the face of President Donald Trump’s “guns-a-blazing” threat over what he called a “Christian genocide” is to build a Nigeria that no foreign bombast — Trump’s or anyone else’s — can destabilise. While critics dismissed it as another outburst from an unstable politician, beneath the bluster lies something far more consequential: Nigeria’s sovereignty, regional credibility, economic stability and internal cohesion are all on the line.

    This is not only about the United States or one man’s bombast. It is about how Nigeria defines itself in a volatile world, whether as a nation that reacts to others, or one that commands its own story. Beyond the noise, this episode offers a mirror on how secure Nigeria is and how ready are we to defend it without losing our balance.

    For decades Nigeria has been West Africa’s stabiliser, providing nearly 70 % of ECOWAS funding, leading peacekeeping missions from Liberia to The Gambia, and hosting over three million refugees and migrants from neighbouring states. But external narratives can redraw that leadership overnight.

    When a U.S. president describes Nigeria as a site of religious cleansing, the consequences ripple far beyond social media. Western investors read it as instability. Neighbouring states read it as risk. The average Nigerian reads it as insult or validation, depending on which side of the country they come from. Suddenly a careless sentence becomes a strategic earthquake.

    Nigeria’s neighbours are listening closely. In the Republic of Benin, where Christians form about 52 % of the population, Trump’s language stirs unease about Nigeria’s north-west insurgency that occasionally spills over their borders. In Niger Republic, which is over 95 % Muslim, the same statement feeds suspicion of Western “protection” narratives, reinforcing a pivot towards Moscow and away from Abuja.

    Trade and integration are also at stake. According to IntelPoint, Nigeria’s exports to ECOWAS countries nearly doubled between 2019 and 2025, rising from 34.2 % to 62.1 % of its intra-African exports. That progress depends on regional trust. If neighbours begin to see Nigeria as a potential flashpoint of faith-based conflict, they will quietly reroute supply chains, border cooperation and security partnerships. The damage would be silent but severe: lost jobs, weaker trade corridors and declining regional goodwill which are the very foundations of Nigeria’s soft power.

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    Pivoting East, losing leverage

    Whenever Washington threatens sanctions or military pressure, Nigeria instinctively looks East to Beijing or Moscow for leverage. But diversification can quickly become dependency in another form.

    Rebutting Trump’s “genocide” claim was firm and necessary. Yet, trust once lost is slow to rebuild. Development finance and security assistance may continue, but under tougher conditions. Human-rights clauses get inserted, aid becomes more conditional, and security intelligence flows slow down.

    Meanwhile, courting Russia or China may appear pragmatic, but it dilutes Nigeria’s bargaining power with the West and risks entanglement in opaque deals. According to Reuters, Nigeria posted a US$6.83 billion balance-of-payments surplus, signalling tentative recovery. That stability could unravel if geopolitical realignment spooks investors or complicates credit access. The lesson is simple: sovereignty without strategy is exposure. The goal should not be to swing between global powers but to act as a bridge guided by national interest, not reaction.

    Socio-economic and political fault-lines

    The more dangerous consequence of Trump’s rhetoric lies within Nigeria itself. The country’s unity already strains under unemployment, insecurity and mistrust. When the world’s cameras turn on Nigeria under headlines of “Christian genocide”, internal discourse fractures. Northern communities feel wrongly portrayed; southern Christians feel vindicated but exposed. Social media polarises instantly. Conspiracy theories thrive. Security agencies become defensive rather than preventive.

    Trust erodes further. In that vacuum, gangs, sects and vigilantes gain moral ground. What begins as rhetorical posturing abroad risks inflaming suspicion at home. This is why language matters. The careless importation of global narratives into Nigeria’s domestic fault-lines can ignite consequences that last far beyond any foreign statement.

    The economy bears the weight of perception. Investors loathe uncertainty.  When Nigeria’s image shifts from “emerging hub” to “potential conflict zone”, that fragile investor confidence trembles. Every rumour of instability translates into higher insurance premiums for traders, slower cross-border traffic and delayed factory expansion. What makes this dangerous is not the accuracy of Trump’s claims but their amplification effect. Words from powerful mouths can move markets faster than policies can correct them.

    Nigeria’s 2027 contest is already loading with identity politics. One camp will weaponise Trump’s claim as proof that Christians are under threat; another will denounce it as neo-colonial interference. Once identity eclipses policy, reform disappears. The conversation moves from schools, jobs and security to siege narratives and suspicion. Every statement becomes ammunition; every silence is misread as complicity. To protect democracy, the government and civic actors must re-centre public debate on dignity, opportunity and trust. Not fear. Not faith. Not foreign approval.

    Steps for a grounded response

    Nigeria’s challenge is not only to rebut Trump’s words, but to prove them irrelevant. That requires competence, transparency and moral authority at home. When the state protects all citizens fairly, foreign provocations lose traction. Nigeria cannot afford another reactionary cycle. It needs a proactive, dignity-driven plan that restores agency.

    Nigeria should use its ECOWAS presidency not merely as symbolism but as agenda-setting power. Define security cooperation, trade and migration frameworks that reflect mutual accountability. Let partners be partners, not puppeteers.

    Counter-terror efforts must be visibly inter-faith and inter-regional. When citizens across divides see themselves equally protected, legitimacy grows faster than resentment.

    Nigeria must replace the language of dependence with that of partnership. “We appreciate support” should never sound like “we await rescue.” Diplomacy begins in vocabulary.

    Beyond faith or region, every Nigerian must feel ownership of the republic. Institutions from recruitment boards to media should model inclusion, not tokenism.

    INEC, civil society and media must pre-empt inflammatory narratives. Elections should be about who can govern, not who belongs.

    In one breath, Nigeria becomes a stage for external agendas; divided at home, pressured abroad, dependent on both. In the other, Nigeria uses this episode as a clarifying moment: to strengthen regional diplomacy, reform its economy, and rebuild trust between citizen and state. The first leads to perpetual reaction; the second to renewed leadership.

    Which path Nigeria takes will depend less on what outsiders say and more on what Nigerians do next; how policymakers act, how citizens insist on dignity, how media frames the national story. Trump’s words will fade. But Nigeria’s response, calm, principled, forward-looking can define a generation. True power lies not in reacting to others, but in repairing ourselves.

    • •Olayiwola is a peace & conflict researcher/policy analyst. He can be reached via lekanolayiwola@gmail.com
  • Ministers defend Nigeria against Trump’s targeted killings claim

    Ministers defend Nigeria against Trump’s targeted killings claim

    • National security remains a top priority for the Tinubu govt

    Ministers and a cross-section of Nigerians rose in defence of the country against the allegation of targeted killings of Christians made by the United States President Donald Trump.

    Different ministers took to different fora to highlight ongoing efforts to tackle terrorism, which they stressed affects all faiths.

    Ministers Mohammed Idris (Information and National Orientation) and Oladele Alake (Solid Minerals) spoke at a press conference; Yusuf Tuggar (Foreign Affairs) met with diplomats in Abuja.

    Festus Keyamo (SAN) (Aviation and Aerospace Development) made his views known in an open letter to President Trump.

    Eminent Nigerians such as human rights activist Femi Falana (SAN) and one-time federal lawmaker Ita Enang also rejected the religious bias claim.

    The government blamed the claim on foreign lobbyists.

    It said their projections of the insecurity in Nigeria were behind the wrong perceptions of the country.

    Admitting that insecurity is a serious concern affecting many communities  in the country, the government said Nigeria remains a good example of “religious plurality’’ and democratic endurance.’’

    “The government has been able to see a correlation between some of the lobbyists operating, especially in the US, and the activities here,’’ Idris said. 

    “We have seen that some of the influencers of these criminal activities have a direct relationship with lobbyists in the US, who have a direct relationship with some of these people who are shouting about this issue outside this country,’’ he added.

    Idris highlighted counter-terrorism efforts by the Tinubu Administration and described the U.S. stance on Nigeria as a product of “misrepresentation and misinformation.”

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    “Nigeria faces long-standing security challenges that have impacted Christians and Muslims alike.

    “Any narrative suggesting that the Nigerian state is failing to take action against religious attacks is based on faulty data,” he said.

    The minister added that security agencies had, since May 2023, “neutralised more than 13,500 terrorists” and arrested more than 17,000 suspects. 

    “More than 9,850 abducted persons,” according to him, were reunited with their families within the same period after their rescue.

    Tuggar told the diplomatic community that it was inaccurate to characterise Nigeria’s security challenges as manifestations of state-sanctioned religious intolerance.

    Tuggar, represented at the event by his Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed, described Nigeria  as ‘’a global exemplar of religious plurality and democratic endurance.’’

    He assured that the government was doing everything possible to contain terrorism.

    He said: “National security remains a top priority for the Tinubu administration, which has adopted a comprehensive approach combining military strength, intelligence, diplomacy, and community engagement.

    “Sustained operations such as Operation Hadin Kai and Operation Lake Sanity have degraded Boko Haram and ISWAP, reclaimed vast territories and facilitated the return of millions of displaced persons.                  

    “Advanced surveillance technologies are being deployed to combat banditry and kidnapping, while community-based peace building and the National Early Warning and Response System (NEWS) enhance conflict prevention.

    “Civil-military cooperation has strengthened trust, improved intelligence gathering, and reduced the recruitment of extremists.

    “Nigeria remains a global exemplar of religious plurality and democratic endurance. The 1999 Constitution guarantees complete freedom of thought, conscience, and religion and prohibits the adoption of any state religion.

    “The Nigerian state is secular in both structure and function; policies and institutions operate without religious bias, ensuring that Christians and Muslims hold leadership positions across all levels.

    “Recent external claims suggesting systemic religious persecution in Nigeria are unfounded. The recent designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) based on speculations of religious persecution is fundamentally misinformed.

    “It misrepresents Nigeria’s secular constitutional order and its record in protecting religious freedom. Nigeria’s demographic balance, approximately equal Christian and Muslim populations, its interwoven communities, and its functioning multi-religious democracy stand as clear evidence of our coexistence.

    “Nigeria’s judiciary has consistently demonstrated its independence, protecting freedom of expression and religion.

    “The state continues to wage a comprehensive counter-terrorism campaign against groups that target Nigerians of all faiths.

    “It is therefore inaccurate to characterise Nigeria’s complex security challenges as manifestations of state-sanctioned religious intolerance.

    “Nigeria’s national legal framework contains no offence of blasphemy. The existing public-order laws are religion-neutral and protect all communities equally from incitement to violence.

    “Sharia laws, limited to some northern states, apply only to Muslims and remain under the oversight of the secular judiciary. Christian and Muslim institutions operate freely, promoting peaceful coexistence.

    “Interfaith harmony is sustained through institutions such as the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NREC), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA.

    “Nigeria has consistently demonstrated its openness to dialogue and cooperation, and constructive engagement, which should remain the standard in the engagement between and among sovereign states in the international system.’’

    He added that while Nigeria notes with grave concern the unfounded and disparaging rhetoric over the security situation in the country, “it is our firm conviction that the international community will continue on the path of mutual respect and cooperation that fosters peace, prosperity, and harmony.’’

    ‘No religious colouration in attacks’

    Alake said data show insecurity in Nigeria has dropped to its lowest level in a decade.

    He cited major reforms in the security architecture and ongoing prosecution of suspects behind the Owo Church and Benue massacres.

    Alake stressed that terrorism in Nigeria is driven mainly by economic and political motives, not religion, warning against framing attacks as faith-based.

    He reminded the media of its “responsibility to society,” urging balanced reporting that supports peace and stability.

    “If there is no society, there is no press,” he cautioned.

    Alake said: “We all know that this insecurity did not start yesterday. But from the actions taken so far, if one is unbiased, one would know that from the plethora of actions taken in the last three years, if we had taken those actions in the last ten years, we would probably not be where we are today.

    “These range from the changes in the security architecture, the top brass of various security agencies changed in 2023, and again, a few days or so ago, to reinvigorate the security system.

    “These are not political texts; these are policy actions emanating from very exhaustive planning and strategising, and they are yielding results.

    “As the minister said, a global organisation recently published the fact that globally, in the last decade in Nigeria, the last two years have recorded the lowest incidences of insecurity.

    “Locally, to us, even one incident is an anathema. But when you look at the various figures in the last ten or more years, and you do a comparative analysis with the last two years, you will see the tremendous efforts that this government has put in place and the actions so far taken to stem the tide of this insecurity.

    “Except one is deceiving himself, nearly everybody in this country knows that there is no deliberate targeting of any religion for persecution. There are facts.

    “Sometimes, when these terrorists go to attack, they don’t go to attack because of the religion of those inhabitants.

    “They go to attack for different reasons, largely economic. Some may be political, but largely economic.

    “So, to use the faith of the inhabitants as a motive for the attack is totally off the mark. It does not reflect the reality of that, and we all know it.”

    Keyamo writes Trump

    Keyamo dismissed claims of mass killings of Christians in Nigeria, describing them as false and misleading.

    Keyamo stated that as a Christian and long-time human rights lawyer, it would be impossible for him to serve in a government that persecutes Christians or targets any group based on religion.

    “I was born and raised as a Christian in Nigeria,” Keyamo said.

    “Because of my strong Christian background and ethical pedigree, it would have been most unconscionable for me to associate with – let alone continue to serve – a government if truly there is any scintilla of truth in the assertion that Christians are specifically targeted in Nigeria for persecution, killings or harassment on account of their faith. It is simply not true.”

    The minister recalled that he had practised law for over three decades, much of it devoted to defending human rights, and was honoured with the Global Human Rights Award by the U.S. Global Leadership Council in 2017 for his advocacy work.

    Keyamo said Nigeria’s security challenges, including attacks by Boko Haram, herdsmen, and bandits, were inherited problems that had affected both Christians and Muslims, not one group in isolation.

    He stressed that the Tinubu Administration is tackling insecurity without religious bias.

    “Most of the security chiefs appointed by the President are Christians, so it would be unthinkable to imagine them being complicit in the killing of fellow Christians,” he said.

    He also described President Tinubu as a “moderate Muslim” whose wife is a pastor and whose children are practising Christians.

    “He will be the last person to either adopt the killing of Christians as a state policy or condone such acts,” he added.

    Keyamo reaffirmed that Nigeria remains a secular state with constitutional guarantees for freedom of religion and equal protection for all citizens, regardless of faith.

    Appealing directly to President Trump, he urged him and the U.S. government to seek balanced information about Nigeria and work with the Tinubu Administration to combat terrorism.

    “President Trump, the Nigerian people ask for deep and sincere understanding from your government at this point.

    “We ask for support, cooperation and collaboration to confront this decades-old menace of terrorism,” he said.

    Falana: no evidence of Christian genocide

    Falana said there was no evidence of Christian killings in Nigeria.

    “Mr Trump has lied to the whole world by alleging Christian killings in Nigeria without any evidence to back it up,” he said during a live TV programme.

    The senior lawyer argued that the allegation by Trump should be a wake-up call for the Federal Government to address the issue of killings in several parts of the country by gunmen.

    He said the government has the Constitutional mandate to secure lives and properties.

    “Those who are killing are either killing to expropriate land or killing to feed their animals.

    “Instead of losing sleep over Mr Trump’s statement, the government has a duty to look inward about where errors have been made,” Falana said.

    UN: why violent extremism persists in West Africa, Sahel

    The United Nations (UN) Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Dr. Mohammed Chambas, attributed the persistence of violent extremism in the region to the absence of dialogue and social interaction among communities.

    Speaking at the maiden West Africa Islamic Conference on Security and Governance in Abuja, with the theme: “The Role of Islamic Organisations in Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism in West Africa and the Sahel,” Chambas said the radicalisation of youths is fuelled by isolation and intolerance.

    He defined radicalisation as the process of brainwashing individuals to become intolerant of other experiences and views.

    “The unwillingness to appreciate the existence of others among communities across the world has bred gross intolerance, extremism, violent agitations, conflicts, and oppression,” he said.

    Chambas, who also serves as the African Union (AU) High Representative for Silencing the Guns under Agenda 2063, noted that the Sahel accounted for 19 per cent of all terrorist attacks globally and 51 per cent of terrorism-related deaths in 2024.

    “Our West Africa sub-region has been under fire due to a lack of effective interaction and dialogue among diverse ethnic and religious communities,” he added.

    He called for deliberate peace education and awareness initiatives that promote positive relationships and sustainable development, stressing that religious leaders and traditional rulers are “uniquely positioned to guide communities towards peace and counter extremist ideologies.”

    Similarly, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah, urged Islamic organisations to focus on educating the youth against extremist ideologies.

    Enang: speak with one voice

    Former Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, urged the Federal Government to present a unified stance in response to the U.S. designation of Nigeria under its religious freedom watchlist.

    He advised government officials to avoid public comments that could misrepresent Nigeria’s official position, suggesting that the Presidency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and National Assembly leadership should coordinate a harmonised diplomatic response.

    “This is a diplomatic issue that must be handled with utmost caution. Not every government official should make statements capable of inflaming the situation or misrepresenting the country,” Enang said.

  • Peace Corps faults Trump’s military threat

    Peace Corps faults Trump’s military threat

    National Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Dickson Akoh on Wednesday urged United State President, Donald Trump to shun unilateral action that carries enormous risk over his threat to deploy military force to Nigeria.

    Trump recently designated Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ and threatened the use of military might over perceived genocide against Christians in Nigeria.

    Reacting to the development, Akoh while speaking to journalists at the PCN headquarters in Abuja acknowledged the gravity of insecurity affecting citizens of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds, including foreign nationals. 

     Akoh said the PCN appeal to Trump, in the interest of global peace and security, is to rather than resorting to the threats of deploying military force, choose diplomacy and a peaceful approach as the best option in the interest of the vulnerable and peaceful Nigerians and foreigners alike.

    He said: “The Peace Corps of Nigeria is greatly concern by the recent remarks by the American President, Mr Donald Trump, wherein he recently designated Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ and threatened the use of military might over the perceived genocide against Christians in Nigeria.

    “Military intervention, especially unilateral action, carries an inherent and enormous risk. It complicates an already complex environment, threatens to escalate violence, and risks destabilizing the very communities it seeks to protect, potentially creating a humanitarian crisis far worse than the original problem. We must avoid this tragic playbook.

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    “Nigeria requires collaborative, strategic support, not confrontation. This is where the non-kinetic approach is vital. We stand ready to partner with international bodies and the US government through peaceful and developmental means. The deployment of resources for job creation, education, and peace-building programs represents a far more sustainable and effective path to peace than the deployment of troops. We urge the United States to respect our territorial integrity and engage through established diplomatic channels.

    “By virtue of its Special Consultative Status granted in 2013, the Peace Corps of Nigeria is part of the UN system and shares its core ideal: a commitment to global peace and security. Since any regional threat risks global stability, we call on the United Nations to urgently leverage consultative dialogue, integrated negotiation, and high-level diplomacy to mediate the rising tensions between its member states, America and Nigeria.

    “Nigeria is a proud and sovereign nation committed to fundamental freedoms. For the sake of all innocent lives, the peace of diplomacy must always be chosen over the trauma of military deployment. Therefore, the UN must act decisively to intervene before this current tension spirals into any form of confrontation. By urgently bringing both nations together under its neutral auspices, the United Nations can secure a path of mutual respect and sustainable, non-kinetic solutions that truly benefit the vulnerable people of Nigeria”.

    Akoh commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing new Service Chiefs and urged them to tackle insecurity headlong.

  • How Nigeria should deal with Trump’s military threat

    How Nigeria should deal with Trump’s military threat

    By Keem Abdul

    “Prepare for possible action.” ~ Trump

    That was the order the US President, Donald Trump issued to his Department of War in response to allegations of anti-Christian violence in Nigeria – which he blamed on radical Islamic terrorists. The order follows a post he made on social media some days back, in which he announced that the US would immediately cut off all assistance to Nigeria if the Nigerian government continued to allow the killing of Christians. The US, he said, “may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing,’. He described his threatened attack as “fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!” He also announced that Nigeria would be added to the Department of State’s list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) – a governance barometer to monitor religious persecution around the world. Recall that Nigeria was first placed on the CPC list by the U.S. in 2020 over what that country’s State Department called ‘systematic violations of religious freedom.’ The designation was lifted in 2023.

    Days before the President’s posts, a number of US (mostly Republican) political figures claimed that violent disputes in Nigeria are part of a systematic campaign of Christian genocide. The most prominent among them was the Republican Senator from Texas, Ted Cruz, who urged the US Congress to designate Nigeria as a violator of religious freedom. More recently, the American comedian and TV host, Bill Maher has expounded on this narrative on his popular syndicated show. “I’m not a Christian,” he said, “but they are systematically killing the Christians in Nigeria … This is so much more of a genocide attempt than what is going on in Gaza. They are literally attempting to wipe out the Christian population of an entire country.”

    With human rights groups – in Nigeria and around the globe – consistently calling on successive governments in Nigeria, including the current administration of President Bola Tinubu, to do more to address insurgency, banditry, herder-farmer clashes and ethnic disputes in the country, both the government and some stakeholders say that claims of a Christian genocide are not only false but also a trivialization of much deeper socio-economic and cultural issues, and that Trump is simply amplifying a dangerous ‘far-right’ narrative. Armed groups like Boko Haram, these stakeholders say, have historically targeted both Muslims and Christians – bombing markets, churches and mosques in equal measure. Similarly, they note, banditry in Northern Nigeria often pits Fulani herders against (predominantly Muslim) Hausa communities – nuances of Nigeria’s realities that foreign media mercenaries, eager to stoke ethno-religious divisions, fail to grasp or deliberately ignore.
    Others, while acknowledging the existential threats Christians face in some parts of the country, have called on the Trump administration to seek effective ways of working with Nigerian authorities to address the common enemy (e.g. by offering military and other assistance) as opposed to embarking on unilateral military action – saying such a move would be counterproductive.

    In his comments on the matter, President Tinubu has stressed that his government “continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions.” The characterization of Nigeria as a religiously intolerant society, he said, “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. Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so.”

    No matter how one looks at the situation – and whether the killings in various parts of Nigeria amount to a genocide, or whether they target any specific religious group – there is no denying the fact that Nigeria, whose population is split almost equally between Christians and Muslims, has long endured harrowing insecurity, which must be tackled with all the seriousness and urgency it deserves.

    To be sure, the killing of ONE innocent person is a monumental tragedy and an attack on our common humanity, let alone the mass killing of innocents. But the use of the word, ‘genocide’ (legally defined as ‘certain acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group’) takes on a deeper and problematic dimension – which is why governments or groups the world over are often so vociferous in denying complicity whenever they are accused of perpetrating it. Turkey, for example, has for decades rejected the international community’s designation of its actions against the Armenian population in 1915-16 (during WW I) as ‘genocide’. As we speak, in fact, the State of Israel is pushing back against widespread accusations of genocide in Gaza during its two-year conflict with the Palestinian militant group, Hamas. Clear, undeniable cases of genocide, however, include the Jewish Holocaust perpetrated by Germany’s Nazi regime during WW II, and the Rwandan genocide of 1994, among others.

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    In instances where a nation is accused of genocide, it has sought to control the narrative, first by noting international concern about the issue in question and then redoubling its efforts to address it. It then works to dispel misconceptions likely to muddy the waters and further complicate an already complex situation. More than just responding to Trump’s threat, Tinubu must lead the narrative, speak with presence and power. Nigeria’s silence on the global stage has long created a vacuum, and because nature abhors a vacuum, as they say, this silence has been filled by half-truths and deliberate falsehoods by people with Trump-sized platforms and megaphones. Facts, diplomacy, and firm leadership must be our watchwords going forward, so as to stop providing fodder for external agendas and prevent the Trumps of this world (whose only language is presence and power) from defining our story for us.

    Furthermore, several threatening tweets by President Trump, the US Secretary of War, Peter Hegseth, as well as Congressman Riley M. Moore, have preseneted a worrisome number of “ifs”, suggesting the hell-bent disposition of the Trump-led US government towards military action if the urgent conditions are not met. Such unequivocal and brazen threats from the USA, regardless of whether they are perceived as an affront or international concern, suggest there are consequences for inaction by the Nigerian government, with further hesitation making matters worse. The knee jerk reactions by the Nigerian government representatives and aides since Friday, for instance, is a diplomatic gaffe that hints the general lethargy with which the Nigerian government has responded to national insecurity, further worsening the negative perception.
    Even as Tinubu has yet to appoint ambassadors since assuming office, nothing stops the Nigerian government from exploring other avenues for engaging Washington. For example, the government could appoint a high-powered government delegation comprised of former diplomats Prof Bolaji Akinyemi, (former Foreign Affairs Minister), Chief Emeka Anyaoku (former Secretary General Commonwealth) and Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe (top diplomat cum intelligence operative) meeting with Congressmen at the Capitol in Washington to allay their fears and presenting a diplomatic letter (Formal First Person Note) from President Bola Tinubu or Yusuff Tuggar highlighting the action plan undertaken by the administration and efforts made so far in quelling insecurity in the country.

    In fostering positive narratives, President Tinubu could also delegate representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other notable Christian leaders such as Pastot Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), and Bishop David Oyedepo of Winners Chapel to grant press conference countering the claims of the Christian genocide.

    Additionally, President Tinubu must situate the problem where it belongs – namely, that issues surrounding the deadly violence in Nigeria are NOT about religion but a deadly cocktail of insecurity, herder-farmer clashes, cross-border infiltrations, illegal mining, fights over dwindling resources, population pressures and climate change. He must also affirm that in spite of these challenges, Nigeria remains a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.
    And not only must he reiterate his government’s readiness to protect all citizens regardless of faith or ethnicity, it must be SEEN to be doing so. Tinubu must also highlight his government’s successes in tackling insecurity since May 2023, as a result of which terrorism-related deaths have fallen from 2,600 a month before that date to fewer than 200 today.

    Far from being a disgraced nation (in Trump’s words), Nigeria must show itself as a strong, resilient and united nation with a rich history, a diverse culture, and a bright future.
    What the government must NOT do is to act out of panic or indulge in knee-jerk reactions; Nigeria has navigated complex geopolitical situations before, and can do so again. In international relations, strong words often serve as strategic pressure, aimed at achieving specific goals. What is called for at this time is wisdom, strategic foresight, and the ability to approach situations with clarity and level-headedness. In engaging with international critics, Nigeria must prioritize diplomacy, firmness, and confidence as she engages in constructive dialogue and clarifies misconceptions. History has shown that nations that remain calm and composed in the face of adversity often emerge stronger.

    • Keem Abdul, a public relations guru, publisher and writer, hails from Lagos. He can be reached via text on +2349046303816 or Akeemabdul2023@gmail.com
  • Trump’s threats and Nigerian hysteria

    Trump’s threats and Nigerian hysteria

    Donald Trump never misses a chance to play saviour in someone else’s tragedy. Of all the troubled spots on earth, he’s now lighted on Nigeria intent on playing super hero. I dare say that for all their challenges, Christians in this country can’t say they have the worst deal on the planet.

    That’s why many suspect that his threat of U.S. military action over alleged “Christian genocide” isn’t about saving lives. It’s more to do with politics, power – and a wilful ignorance about our complex realities.

    Over the weekend Trump redesignated Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern (CPC).’ Less than twenty fours later he declared he was considering taking military action.

    To demonstrate his seriousness the Department of War was asked to draw up an intervention plan.

    Paradoxically, this same president, as election candidate, made out he was against American military adventurism around the globe.

    It’s not the first time Nigeria would be stuck with the CPC tag. Back in 2020, the same Trump placed the country in this column – with sanctions that were supposed to attend that categorisation.

    The fact that his action didn’t generate much of a ripple meant it didn’t have any serious effect on the Muhammadu Buhari administration, or on the generality of the people.

    What is different now is the threat of military action against a country which historically, on the African continent, has been one of America’s most steadfast allies and partners. The threat landed with all the elegance of a Russian Scud missile. Little wonder the hysterical reactions in many quarters.

    Much of the anxiety flows from the erratic nature of the American president. But that same unpredictability should have made people read Trump’s statement more closely to see whether this was just another episode of bluster and bluff.

    Earlier this year, he accused South Africa of carrying out ‘genocide’ against white farmers. To save them from that ‘terrible fate’ he doled out visas to many and relocated them to the United States. As many would point out, while that country might have a high murder rate, most of the victims are Blacks.

    Trump would have none of it. When South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the White House to thrash things out, he was ambushed with an awkward film show and made to watch discredited videos purporting to show genocide against whites. The visiting leader calmly dismissed all the accusations. The ‘white genocide’ story quickly expired.

    Read Also: Chad shuts border with Nigeria over Trump threat

    Between January and May this year, Trump repeatedly threatened to use military force to annex Greenland. This semi-autonomous territory of Denmark is the world’s largest island. Despite its massive 2.16 million square kilometres landmass, it has a minuscule 56,836 population. Trump had been lusting after the land which he said was good for military security. When the plucky islanders told him in no uncertain terms they were not for sale, he backed off.

    This was the same Trump who earlier this year was threatening to make Canada America’s 51st state. His high pressure courtship was firmly rebuffed by Prime Minister Mark Carney who told him his country wasn’t for sale.

    Against this backdrop it’s hard to understand the air of crisis ever since Trump spoke. Some interpreted his words to mean a land invasion was imminent. Others imagined air strikes from Abuja to the Sambisa Forest. Much of this is just fanciful nonsense given that the American’s president talked about taking out terrorists.

    Asked by reporters if he envisioned troops on the ground or air strikes in Nigeria, Trump said: “Could be. I mean, other things. I envisage a lot of things. They’re killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria … They’re killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We’re not going to allow that to happen.” In typical Trump-speak this is a lot of maybes and maybe nots.

    For Nigerians, this outburst is insulting. It’s one thing to express concern about insecurity in Africa’s most populous country. It’s quite another to issue threats based on a dangerously distorted narrative.

    Religious tension has existed in Nigeria for decades. Boko Haram came into the mix in the early 2,000s attacking churches and mosques, killing Christians and Muslims. The killings in the North-Central have more to do with land-grabbing, a vicious cycle of reprisals, and criminality of all sorts. Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has pointed out that in the Southeast people with Christian names are killing others who profess the same faith. Do these Christian lives matter to the American defender of Christianity? Will his bombing campaign target these killers too?

    Trump’s comments are not only unwelcome meddling in the affairs of a sovereign nation that has long been an American ally, they are also reckless, uninformed, and reek of election-year opportunism. The craven play to his evangelical and right wing base is all too evident.

    It should also be pointed out that no major country in Europe, Asia or the America’s has levelled this grave accusation against Nigeria? It can’t be that they don’t have their own intelligence about goings on in this country.

    The presumption is galling. How, in the face of all international conventions and laws, does a country – no matter how powerful – take it upon itself to march into another country, uninvited, supposedly to right wrongs there! Over the decades it’s been said that America was the world’s policeman. But no one ever told us who appointed the U. S. to that role.

    If Trump has a solution to killings, how come he’s not been able to end gun violence which claims an average of 46,000 Americans each year and 125 people daily?

    Invasions and airstrikes, on their own, never solved any problem. Israel, with all its military capabilities and American support, bombed tiny Gaza for two years and didn’t succeed in locating the hostages. Only a formal ceasefire brought them home.

    Yes, Christians in Nigeria have suffered terribly from violence – so have Muslims, traditional worshippers, and anyone unfortunate enough to live where the state has lost control. Boko Haram, ISWAP, and bandits have killed thousands, sparing no one because of religious stripe.

    But to call it genocide against Christians is a misapplication of words.  Genocide is a grave legal term implying state-sponsored intent to wipe out a people. No credible evidence suggests that the government is engaged in, or tolerates, such a campaign.

    If Trump’s concern were truly humanitarian, he would have threatened Myanmar over its persecution of the Rohingya or demanded action against Israel’s excesses in Gaza. But Nigeria – emerging economy, Black, and far away – makes for an easier stage on which to flex moral muscle without consequence.

    The Nigerian government did the right thing by rejecting Trump’s narrative outright while restating its openness to legitimate counter-terrorism cooperation.

    Tinubu’s response was calm but firm: there is no war on Christians in Nigeria, and no foreign power has the right to dictate or intervene militarily.

    Still, the incident should be a wake-up call for government. The administration isn’t without achievement in the war against terror. In August, the U. S. and U. K. commended the government and its security agencies for the arrest of two senior leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, also known as Ansaru. It needs more wins like this.

    Trump’s threat, however empty, highlights a hard truth: when a state cannot convincingly protect its own people, others will presume the right to speak – or act – on their behalf.

    In that sense, Nigeria’s sovereignty is not just a legal principle; it is something to be earned daily through concrete action and credibility. That there are influential people in Washington D. C. ready to believe that Nigeria is committing genocide is worrying. Every uninvestigated killing in Plateau, every mass abduction in Zamfara, every displaced family in Benue, tells a story of a country struggling to protect its citizens.

    In the absence of clear data, transparency, and justice, the loudest voices however ill-informed – fill the void. If we don’t define our own story, others will do it for us, often to our detriment.

    If Nigeria wants to avoid being the next ‘intervention project,’ it must learn this simple lesson: fix your house, or someone else will claim the right to rearrange the furniture.

  • Nigeria’s bonds slip on Trump’s threat

    Nigeria’s bonds slip on Trump’s threat

    Nigeria’s sovereign bonds slipped yesterday after United States President Donald Trump threatened military action in the country if it did not take action to protect Christians, but veteran investors said the fallout was likely to be limited.

    Longer-dated bonds fell the most, with the 2051 issue falling roughly 0.5 cents before retracing some of the losses to bid at just under 92 cents on the dollar, in contrast with flat trading for most emerging market bonds.

    Trump said on Sunday the U.S. military could deploy troops to Nigeria or carry out airstrikes to stop what he called the killing of large numbers of Christians in the West African country.

    Nigeria, which has struggled to stem nationwide violence, said it would welcome U.S. help in fighting Islamist insurgents as long as its territorial integrity was respected.

    Attacks from Islamist insurgencies in the Northeast, bandits in the Northwest and bloody clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the Middle Belt killed some 3,570 civilians last year, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.

    Experts say the majority killed by radical Islamist groups are Muslim, while violence against Christian farmers in the Middle Belt is driven more by a battle for land than religion.

    Investors were largely unfazed by the threat.

    Read Also: Trump’s Nigerian gambit

    “The dip seems contained and has partly reversed since,” Head of Africa strategy at Standard Chartered in London, said Samir Gadio, said referring to Eurobond prices.

    Foreign investors have largely viewed Nigeria as an attractive destination for their cash this year, bolstered by economic reforms from President Bola Tinubu, including scrapping costly fuel subsidies and allowing the naira currency to devalue.

    Nigeria’s equities are up around 65per cent year-to-date in total U.S. dollar return terms, according to Tellimer, making them the best performer in African emerging markets behind Ghana.

    The country’s bond spreads have also narrowed enough that it has been eyeing billions in bond sales this year.

    “My sense is that this will not become a major concern for the market,” said Aberdeen fund manager Kevin Daly, citing expectations that Nigerian officials would discuss the situation with their U.S. counterparts.

    And for now, the areas of concern are far from the oil-producing southern part of the country and the commercial capital, Lagos.

    “U.S. military strikes, which still look very unlikely, on the northern or central-north regions of Nigeria are unlikely to have much economic impact because of the lack of commercial activity and the existing disruption in these regions,” said Tellimer’s Hasnain Malik, adding that Trump’s threats were, for now, “a red herring for the investment case”, which should focus on economic policy reforms and good valuations.

  • Trump’s Nigerian gambit

    Trump’s Nigerian gambit

    By Chris Adetayo

    For two consecutive days last week, US President Donald Trump found time for Nigeria. Piqued by reports of orchestrated killings of Christians in the country, he warned the Nigerian government to do something about it or he will order an invasion of the country by US Forces.

    It is not the first time that President Trump will bring his considerable bully pulpit to bear on the internal affairs of an African country. He was only weeks in office, in 2025, when he dragged South Africa through the mud for “genocide against White South Africans”. Not stopping at using his Truth Social platform to ventilate his feelings, he signed an Executive Order stopping foreign aid to South Africa and imposed other sanctions. He then proceeded to offer sanctuary to White South Africans under a refugee resettlement scheme. Shaken by the public hostility, President Cyril Ramaphosa scurried to the White House to plead the case of his country.

    Trump was also engaged in the Democratic Republic of Congo as the war in the eastern part of the country escalated. Through diplomatic efforts, he brought both sides to the table and brokered a peace deal. While the deal has not completely ended the war, the ferocity seems to have been tempered.

    Nigeria is therefore not the first African country that he has come at. In fact, it can be argued that given the country’s strategic importance and the long running security problems in the country, Trump’s intervention is neither surprising nor hasty. What is however peculiar is the context of his intervention and his proposed actions.

     First, President Trump declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern”. He anchored this decision on the “existential threats” faced by Christians in the hands of “Radical Islamists”, and the over 3000 Christians reportedly killed. He mandated a team of congressmen to investigate the matter and report to him. He followed this up a day later with an even more threatening message. In it, he warned that the US will invade the country to wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are killing Christians if the Nigerian government fails to bring an end to the killings.

    There are many dimensions to the rather sudden international escalation of the security crisis that Nigeria has faced for nearly two decades now. Each is worth exploring.

    First, is there a Christian genocide going on in any part of Nigeria? The answer is no. Available evidence does not support this charge. Across Nigeria, insurgents, bandits and various outlaws have waged a war against peoples and communities. The victims have been largely indiscriminate, distinguished more by choreography than creed. In areas where Christians dominate (like Benue and Plateau states), they have borne the brunt of the attacks that have wasted hundreds of lives. Where Muslims are dominant (like Zamfara, Borno, Yobe and Katsina States), they account for the majority of victims.

    By anchoring his intervention on “genocide against Christians”, the US President got off on the wrong foot. Indeed, by doing so, he unwittingly caused further division in the country; for while some Nigerian Christians hailed him, Muslims who have also been at the receiving end of this near-collapse in security legitimately feel further victimised. President Trump would have served the cause of peace and security by not making it a “Christian genocide” matter.

    In the same vein, the threat to invade the country, “guns-a-blazing”, is uncalled for. As the US itself has found out in its invasions of several countries, including Afghanistan, Somalia and Iraq, “fast, vicious and sweet” attacks hardly make for long term solutions. The enemies of Nigeria are amorphous and hydra-headed. Some are driven by religious zealotry, some by long-running squabbles over land and resources, and yet others by atavistic pursuits. No fast and sweet attacks will succeed in ending these. The solution will be painstaking, collaborative and combinative.

    Read Also: Nigeria must unite against fabricated divisions — Alawuje

    But is Trump’s intervention all negative? No. In fact one of the positives from his intervention is how it will force the Nigerian government to sit up and face the security challenges of the country. For too long, past and present governments have clearly not done enough to rid the country of these outlaws. In the Northwest, road travel is impossible in large parts. Outside of Kano and Jigawa states, all the remaining five states in the zone have pockets of bandits that regularly terrorise our citizens. The same is true for the Northeast and the North-central. The Southeast, for a decade now, has been held hostage by elements of IPOB, an organisation that seeks the realisation of a break-away Republic of Biafra. Everywhere one turns, the security situation in the country is dire and the efforts, from strategy to tactics to operations, have been clearly inadequate to birth long term peace and end the waste of lives.

    How can the US truly help?

    President Trump must first get the facts of Nigeria’s insecurity situation right. To do so, he must utilise and prioritise the intelligence-gathering expertise of the career and military diplomats that America has in abundance. He must shun the charlatans and paid agents who are determined to add to the problems for their selfish goals, and those who see the issues purely from the narrow prism of Muslim vs Christian conflict.

    Furthermore, he must come around to the reality that what is needed in Nigeria is more and better support for the Nigerian government. For too long, accessing military hardware from the US has been extremely difficult for Nigeria. It is often a surprise that while America eagerly sells military hardware to countries in the Middle East, to India, to South Korea and many others, it is very reluctant to sell to Nigeria. Even worse, intelligence support is virtually unavailable to Nigeria. These are the areas where Trump can bring America’s power to bear on the Nigerian problem. Rather than threaten an invasion, he should find ways to offer the Nigerian military support with easier access to weaponry, as well as intelligence on locations, movements and plans of our enemies.

    In the final analysis, the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu now, more than ever before, needs to do better. Over the past two years, focus has been almost exclusively on the economy – with ground breaking policies and programmes designed to unlock Nigeria’s economic potentials. Other critical responsibilities of government have, however, not received the same attention. Diplomacy, in the last two years, has been largely operational and lacking in foresighted strategy. Our embassies have been reduced to providing consular services and little else. Equally, the military continues to mostly run on the same principles and strategies that were inherited from the previous government, principles and strategies that have failed to produce the desired results. This cannot be allowed to continue.

     May Nigeria succeed over its many enemies.

    •Adetayo, a commentator on national and international affairs, writes from Lagos

  • Chad shuts border with Nigeria over Trump threat

    Chad shuts border with Nigeria over Trump threat

    • Opposition behind U.S. allegation, says Wike

    A counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, said yesterday that Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno ordered a complete military lockdown along the Nigerian border after intelligence suggested that terrorist elements from Northern Nigeria were preparing to flee into his country.  

      Makama, who quoted military sources in N’Djamena,  said the Chadian Army had been placed on red alert, with troops and armoured vehicles deployed across key border corridors linking the two countries.

    According to him, the Chadian leader   warned  that “no armed group or foreign force will be allowed to enter Chadian soil under any disguise.”

    Wike: opposition behind U.S allegation 

    FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike,   blamed the opposition leaders for Trump’s claim of genocide against Christians in Nigeria.

    But he did not name any of the opposition leaders when he spoke on a national television yesterday.

    He said: “It is very obvious, and I have said this. The problem we have today is that Mr President’s own nature of politics, you can see the collapse of the opposition.

    “It will be difficult for anybody. The opposition today has seen that no party is prepared to challenge the President returning to power.

    Read Also: Oyedele unveils 50 tax reliefs, benefits for Nigerians

    “What do we do? Should we allow him to just go in like that without challenges?

    ‘’We must do something, and one of the things to do is bring up such a thing that will divide the country. 

    Wike said the narrative of genocide under Tinubu’s administration is “politics taken too far.”

    “It is an indictment that a government I am serving, anybody will allege that that government is supporting genocide, killing of Christians, and I am still in that government.

    “This is politics taken too far. The Inspector General of Police is a Christian, the Directorate of State Service (DSS) is a Christian, and the Chief of Defence (Staff) is a Christian.

    “Tell me how any right-thinking person will think that we will sit in a government and support the killing of our own people?” the minister asked. 

    According to Wike, the killings of Nigerians in any part of the country do not bring joy to any Nigerian leader.

      Asked if he was worried about Trump making good his threat, Wike declined to categorically reply. 

    Weighing in on whether Trump was playing politics, he said: “There could be some misinformation or distortion. It’s unfortunate.”

    Obi urges  diplomatic engagement

     Former Anmabra State Governor  Peter Obi called for constructive diplomatic engagement and any other plausible engagement between Nigeria and the  US to address the prevailing security challenges.

     Citing the long-standing partnership between both countries and their commitment to regional peace and security, Obi advised that the ties should not falter.

    According to him, Trump’s pronouncement should give every well-meaning Nigerian serious concern.

    Akpabio denies criticising Trump 

    Senate President Godswill Akpabio has denied criticising   President  Trump for designating Nigeria as  CPC and proposing to send troops to take out terrorists in Nigeria.

    Akpabio, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity,   Eseme Eyiboh,   said he never made the statement credited to him on social media.

    The statement partly reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a malicious and completely fabricated post published by a platform called Rant HQ, falsely attributing a reckless and imaginary statement to the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio .

    “The post which reads, ‘The killing is taking place in Nigeria not in USA, Trump should focus on US. Nigerians are not complaining about the killings, we are fully satisfied with the condition of Nigeria’ is a total falsehood, a product of mischief, and a desperate attempt to incite misunderstanding between Senator Godswill Akpabio and U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as between Nigeria and its international partners.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the Senate President never made such a statement — not publicly, privately, in writing, or in conversation. We challenge the publishers of this falsehood to produce a single shred of evidence to the contrary.

    “The accompanying photograph, which shows the Senate President at an official event alongside other Senators, has been deceptively used to lend false credibility to a fabricated quote that was never uttered by him.

    “Senator Akpabio is a statesman of global repute and a respected advocate of international friendship, diplomacy, and mutual respect among nations. He holds President Donald Trump in high regard as a historic figure and a leader of a great nation.

    “He would never comment on internal matters of the United States, nor issue any statement that falls within the exclusive domain of Nigeria’s Executive arm of government or the nation’s foreign policy establishment.

    “This malicious post is, therefore, a clear act of digital recklessness and a deliberate attempt to sow confusion, tarnish reputations, and inflame unnecessary diplomatic sentiments.

    “We urge the public to ignore this falsehood in its entirety.

    “We warn Rant HQ and others who trade in misinformation to desist from peddling unverified and fabricated stories just to chase online traffic. Freedom of expression is not freedom to lie.”

    ADC seeks support  for  democratic institutions

    The African Democratic Congress (ADC) cautioned against any form of external military intervention because it would be counterproductive and damaging to the country’s democracy.

    In a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the U.S. president’s designation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern reflected the growing international alarm about the scale of violence and human rights violations in the country.

    However, it urged that such concern should translate into genuine support for Nigeria’s democratic institutions and capacity to find homegrown solutions to its challenges.

    Claim of persecution exaggerated, says cleric

    The Archbishop of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Akure Diocese, Most Rev. Simeon Borokini, has described as exaggerated the claim by United States President Donald Trump, alleging the widespread persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

    Bishop Borokini said the insecurity affects both  Christians and Muslims alike. He spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

     He said contrary to Trump’s claim,  there is no targeted killing of Christians in Nigeria, particularly in the North.

    According to him, attacks by Boko Haram insurgents and armed herdsmen have affected both Christians and Muslims.

    Group calls for diplomatic resolution

    A group, Yoruba Council Worldwide(YCW) has called for the removal of  Nigeria from the list of countries of security concerns.

    The group,  through its President,  Oladokun Hassan, a lawyer, while addressing reporters at the palace of Ooni of Ife, called for an amicable diplomatic resolution of the United States’ security concerns regarding Trump’s claims.

    He said American President should not castigate the Federal Government, but the claim should be a positive international intervention extended to nations battling terrorism.

      “We urge the United States to remove Nigeria from the list of countries of security concern and instead provide Nigeria with modern technological and military support such as drones, tanks, aircraft, and missile launch systems similar to the assistance extended to Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia.”

  • ADC faults Trump over threat of military actions

    ADC faults Trump over threat of military actions

    The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has faulted threats by United States President Donald Trump to launch a war against Nigeria over its security challenges, warning that any form of external military intervention would be counterproductive and harmful to the nation’s democracy.

    While the party acknowledged and shared Trump’s concerns, it urged that such concerns should instead translate into genuine support for strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions and enhancing the country’s capacity to develop homegrown solutions to its challenges.

    In a statement on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the U.S. President’s designation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern reflected the growing international alarm about the scale of violence and human rights violations in the country. 

    It, however, noted that the concerns should be channelled toward helping Nigeria strengthen its democracy and rebuild its capacity to address its internal challenges. 

    Deploying or threatening military action, it warned, would only deepen the crisis and threaten the nation’s unity and stability.

    “We appreciate the American President and other world leaders for their concern about the security situation in our country. 

    Read Also: Trump’s threat of war with Nigeria

    “We will however urge that such concerns should be translated into supporting Nigeria to grow her democracy and develop its capacity to solve its own problems. 

    “We believe that mobilising armed troops or even a mere threat of doing so would do more harm than good and ultimately prove counter-productive to our democratic aspiration and the long-term unity and stability of our country,” the party stressed.

    The ADC outlined a five-point roadmap it believes could rescue the country from deepening insecurity and economic decline. 

    It called for a total overhaul of the national security architecture, including an independent audit of its leadership and operations; the immediate appointment of qualified ambassadors to restore Nigeria’s diplomatic visibility; a foreign policy reset anchored on national interest; economic reforms focused on price stability and social welfare; and an end to the personalization of public institutions in favour of citizen-driven governance.

    According to the party, the U.S. action serves as a stark reminder that the dignity of nations is no longer measured by economic strength alone but by their ability and willingness to protect human life. 

    The party also decried Nigeria’s declining diplomatic influence, blaming the government’s failure to appoint ambassadors and its “personalised foreign policy” for the loss of regional leadership and fractured relations within ECOWAS.