The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, has faulted United States President Donald Trump’s allegation of genocide in Nigeria, describing it as another failure of American intelligence.
Speaking during the National Joint Security press briefing in Abuja on Monday, Issa-Onilu said the US has a history of intelligence failures in several global conflicts, citing examples in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan.
“This is not the first time the intelligence of the United States has failed Americans,” he stated. “It failed in Iraq — it turned out there were no weapons of mass destruction, and they apologized. It failed them in Libya and in many other instances. So I’m sure this is another error in their intelligence gathering.”
He acknowledged that while killings occur in Nigeria, they should not be exaggerated or misrepresented as genocide.
Trump had on Saturday alleged that Christians in Nigeria were facing “an existential threat,” claiming widespread killings and warning that the US could launch a military strike if the situation persisted.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, the American leader said he had directed the Pentagon to “map out a possible plan of attack in Nigeria,” adding that if action became necessary, it would be “fast, vicious, and sweet.”
Responding to reporters’ questions about the form such military action might take, Trump suggested he was considering multiple options, including deploying troops or carrying out air strikes.
“They’re killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We’re not going to allow that to happen,” he said.
His comments came after the Nigerian presidency urged dialogue to resolve the issue, dismissing the genocide allegations as politically motivated.
Other government officials, including Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, have also described Trump’s comments as baseless and politically charged.
