Nigeria has firmly rejected any potential U.S. military intervention following President Donald Trump’s recent warning over alleged persecution of Christians in the West African nation.
A spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu said Sunday that the United States cannot unilaterally conduct military operations in Nigeria, describing Trump’s comments as being based on misleading reports.
Daniel Bwala, Tinubu’s spokesman, told The Associated Press that Trump’s warning appeared to reflect his typical “forceful approach” aimed at compelling dialogue.
Trump on Saturday claimed he had instructed the Pentagon to begin planning for possible action in Nigeria, alleging widespread attacks on Christians.
Trump’s ‘guns blazing’ threat
Reiterating his stance, Trump accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians, warning that Washington would halt aid and could even “go in guns-a-blazing” to “wipe out the Islamic terrorists” responsible for the violence.
He also announced Nigeria’s designation as a “country of particular concern” — a formal U.S. classification for nations accused of violating religious freedom — following calls from Senator Ted Cruz and several U.S. celebrities who alleged, without evidence, that a “Christian genocide” was underway.
However, The Associated Press reported that both Christians and Muslims are victims of Nigeria’s long-running security crises, with attacks often driven by geography and local conflicts rather than religion.
Nigeria denies Christian persecution
Bwala dismissed the U.S. claims as outdated, saying they rely on reports from more than a decade ago when Boko Haram began its insurgency to impose its version of Shariah law.
“Military operations in Nigeria can only happen through mutual agreement between two sovereign leaders. It cannot be a unilateral decision,” he said.
President Tinubu has also rejected Trump’s designation, reaffirming his commitment to work with Washington and other partners to protect communities of all faiths.
Joseph Hayab, a former chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna state, likewise dismissed allegations of systematic persecution, though he urged the government to strengthen security in violence-prone areas.
Shared suffering across faiths
Nigeria has for years battled widespread insecurity that affects both Christians and Muslims, who make up roughly equal parts of its 220 million population.
Much of the violence in the north has been driven by Boko Haram insurgents and by armed groups — often former herders — who have taken up weapons against farming communities after years of land disputes.
“The crisis is far more complex than a simple religious framing suggests. Geography largely determines who becomes the victim,” said Taiwo Hassan Adebayo, a researcher at the Institute for Security Studies.
Nigeria’s military continues to launch air strikes and special operations targeting armed gangs, while Tinubu has recently overhauled the nation’s security leadership to strengthen counterinsurgency efforts.
Massive state failure
Analysts say that while the religious persecution narrative is exaggerated, the Nigerian state has failed to act decisively against armed groups.
“In too many cases, perpetrators have escaped punishment. The impunity is a clear sign of massive state failure,” said Cheta Nwanze, a partner at Lagos-based SBM Intelligence.
Adebayo warned that Nigeria must address its security challenges more effectively to avoid external interference. “The criticism from Washington did not emerge in a vacuum,” he said. “It stems from years of inaction.”
Source: AP