Nigeria responds to Trump’s threat of Military action

The Nigerian government has reacted to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of possible military action over alleged persecution of Christians in the country, stating that it would welcome U.S. assistance in combating terrorism, but only if Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected.

Trump, in a social media post on Saturday, claimed he had directed the U.S. Department of Defense to prepare for “fast military action” in Nigeria if the government failed to curb the “killing of Christians”.

In response, a spokesperson for Nigeria’s presidency, Daniel Bwala, told Reuters that the nation is open to international collaboration on security issues but will not compromise its independence.

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“Nigeria would welcome U.S. assistance as long as it recognises our territorial integrity,” Bwala said.

“I am sure by the time these two leaders meet and sit, there would be better outcomes in our joint resolve to fight terrorism,” he added.

Tinubu Defends Nigeria’s Religious Freedom Record

Reacting to Trump’s comments, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu dismissed allegations of religious persecution, insisting that Nigeria upholds freedom of religion and actively engages both Christian and Muslim communities.

“Since 2023, our administration has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions,” Tinubu said in a statement.

“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.”

Trump’s recent remarks reignited international debate over religious freedom in Nigeria. The country, home to over 200 million people, is roughly divided between a Muslim-majority north and a Christian-majority south.

For more than 15 years, Nigeria has battled armed insurgencies, particularly in the northeast, where groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP have carried out attacks on both Christians and Muslims.

Trump’s post also stated that the U.S. would “immediately cut off all assistance” to Nigeria if the government failed to protect Christians, a move observers say could strain diplomatic relations between Abuja and Washington.