Nigeria has pushed back against former US President Donald Trump’s threat of military action, saying it would welcome American support in tackling Islamist insurgents but insists its sovereignty must be respected.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social on Saturday, accused radical Islamists of carrying out “mass slaughter” of Christians in Nigeria, claiming the country’s Christian population was facing “an existential threat.” He also directed US officials to prepare for possible “fast” military action should Nigeria fail to stop the killings.
In response, Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, told Reuters that Nigeria would cooperate with the US in combating terrorism but on terms that recognise its territorial integrity.
“We welcome US assistance as long as it recognises our territorial integrity,” Bwala said, while downplaying tensions between the two countries despite Trump’s description of Nigeria as a “disgraced nation.”
President Tinubu also rejected Trump’s claim of religious intolerance, defending Nigeria’s commitment to protecting freedom of religion.
“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 belief for all Nigerians,” Tinubu said in a statement on Saturday.
Trump cited figures suggesting that 3,100 Christians had been killed in Nigeria, though he provided no source or timeframe. He declared: “We stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world!”
Following Trump’s remarks, Nigeria was added to a US list of “countries of particular concern” alongside North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, and China — nations accused of violating religious freedoms.
Analysts, however, noted that while Christians have been victims of extremist attacks, most casualties in Nigeria’s insurgency are Muslims living in the country’s northern regions. Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), continue to launch deadly assaults targeting both Muslims and Christians, as well as government and security forces.
A 2021 report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom estimated that Islamist groups had killed more than 37,000 people in Nigeria since 2011.
The US and UK currently advise their citizens to reconsider travel to Nigeria due to threats of terrorism, crime, kidnapping, and armed violence.
