…US remains our close ally, FG insists, denies genocide claims
…Nigeria needs support against terrorists, not threats — Kwankwaso
Nigeria’s Federal Government has hinted at a possible peace meeting between President Bola Tinubu and his United States counterpart, Donald Trump, following the latter’s threat to launch military action against Nigeria over what he described as the “killing of Christians” by Islamist groups.
According to the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, the meeting will take place “in the coming days,” either at the State House in Abuja or the White House in Washington.
Bwala said on Sunday that both leaders remain committed to combating terrorism and insurgency, noting that Trump had previously supported Nigeria by approving arms sales, which Tinubu’s administration has “effectively utilized” in the fight against terrorism.
“President Trump has assisted Nigeria a lot by authorising the sale of arms to Nigeria, and President Tinubu has adequately utilised the opportunity in the fight against terrorism, for which we have massive results to show,” Bwala said.
He added that the meeting will also address “differences in perception” over whether terrorist attacks in Nigeria target only Christians or people of all faiths.
Trump’s threat came on Saturday via Truth Social, where he warned that the United States could “go into Nigeria, guns-a-blazing” if the government fails to stop what he described as the killing of Christians.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. 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,” Trump wrote.
He added that he had instructed the Department of War to “prepare for possible action,” saying any US strike “will be fast, vicious, and sweet.”
The American President’s comments came a day after declaring Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” alleging a “mass slaughter” of Christians by Islamist groups.
The threat and designation follow claims by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with some American celebrities, who alleged that Christians are being persecuted in Nigeria — claims made without evidence. Some even described the situation as a “Christian genocide.”
However, an investigation found that both Christians and Muslims have been victims of Nigeria’s ongoing security crises, with attacks often determined by geography rather than religion.
According to Bwala, both Cruz and Trump based their assertions on outdated reports from over a decade ago, when Nigeria’s Boko Haram insurgency began its violent campaign to impose a harsh version of Sharia law.
Responding, President Tinubu dismissed Trump’s claims, saying Nigeria remains committed to religious freedom and tolerance.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality. Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” Tinubu said in a personally signed statement.
He added that his administration “has maintained open engagement with both Christian and Muslim leaders” while addressing security challenges affecting citizens across all faiths.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has backed Trump’s stance, saying the Department of War was “preparing for action against Nigeria.”
Writing on X (Twitter), he applauded Trump’s move, saying, “Yes sir. The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria and anywhere must end immediately. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
Former 2023 AAC (African Action Congress) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore cautioned against celebrating Trump’s remarks, describing them as dangerous and self-serving.
“The latest threat by U.S. President Donald Trump to launch military action in Nigeria, allegedly to protect Christians, may sound appealing to some. Still, history has shown this to be perilous,” Sowore said on X.
“The United States and its allies have a long record of military interventions that leave nations more unstable than before. They failed to secure peace in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, or Syria, and they won’t bring salvation to Nigeria through bombs or boots on the ground.
“What Nigeria truly needs is not a foreign saviour, but legitimate, accountable leadership that protects all citizens and ends the cycles of corruption and violence that have left the nation broken,” he added.
While some netizens expressed gratitude to Trump for “standing up for persecuted Christians,” others voiced skepticism, questioning whether the US President’s vow to “eliminate terrorists overnight” was realistic.
Still, others decried the #DisgracedCountry tag on the social media platform X, which has now gathered more than 20,000 posts, with many, like users #itsonlyayokanmi and #adefunkemomudu, noting the irony of the “Giant of Africa” being referred to as a “disgraced country.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, in a statement released by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebiefina, maintained an opposing stance on the US’ claims of genocide in Nigeria.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, and out of respect for all the victims and survivors around the world of this unique and appalling crime against humanity, let the record show that there is no genocide, now or ever, in Nigeria,” he stated on X.
“We remain committed in our resolve to tackle the violent extremism that is fueled by special interests who have helped drive such decay and division in countries across the intersecting West African and Sahel regions. We mourn all the victims of violent extremism and salute our armed forces as they continue to fight against vicious but cowardly foes. The Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion.
“The US has been and we trust will always remain a close ally, because the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu will maintain our steadfast commitment to all partners who believe in genuine peace, stability, freedom, and democracy,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to support Nigeria with advanced technology to combat insecurity rather than issue threats of military action.
Kwankwaso, who made the call in a statement on Sunday while reacting to Trump’s recent comments accusing the Nigerian government of ignoring attacks on Christians and threatening to launch military operations against terrorist groups in the country, maintained that Nigeria is a sovereign nation battling multiple security challenges that cut across all religions and ethnic groups.
The former Kano State governor, in a statement he issued on Sunday, said, “It is important to emphasise that our country is a sovereign nation whose people face different threats from outlaws across the country. The insecurity we face does not distinguish based on religious, ethnic, or political beliefs.”
The former defence minister therefore advised the U.S. government to channel its influence and resources toward helping Nigeria address insecurity, rather than making inflammatory remarks that could deepen divisions.
“The United States should assist the Nigerian authorities with better, cutting-edge technology to tackle these problems, rather than posing a threat that could further polarise our country,” Kwankwaso added.
He, however, urged the Nigerian government to adopt a more proactive diplomatic approach in dealing with Washington, including the appointment of envoys and ambassadors to represent Nigeria’s interests globally.