Nigeria has firmly rejected the possibility of any US military intervention after former President Donald Trump warned of action over what he called persecution of Christians in the West African nation.
A spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu said on Sunday that Washington had no right to conduct unilateral operations in Nigeria, calling Trump’s remarks “misinformed and misleading.”
Daniel Bwala, Tinubu’s spokesperson, told the Associated Press that Trump’s warning reflected his “characteristically forceful approach” aimed at pushing dialogue rather than an actual plan.
Trump’s remarks
On Saturday, Trump claimed he had ordered the Pentagon to prepare for possible action in Nigeria, alleging widespread attacks on Christians. He accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christian communities and threatened to suspend US aid, even saying Washington could “go in guns-a-blazing” to “wipe out Islamic terrorists.”
He also said Nigeria would be designated a “country of particular concern” — a formal US classification for nations accused of violating religious freedom — following appeals from Senator Ted Cruz and several US celebrities who alleged, without evidence, that a “Christian genocide” was underway.
Nigeria denies persecution
The Associated Press reported that both Christians and Muslims have long suffered from Nigeria’s overlapping security crises, where violence is often shaped more by geography and local conflict than by religion.
Bwala dismissed the US claims as outdated, saying they stemmed from decade-old reports dating back to Boko Haram’s rise in the early 2010s.
“Military operations in Nigeria can only happen through mutual agreement between two sovereign leaders. It cannot be a unilateral decision,” he said.
Tinubu also rejected the US designation, reiterating his government’s commitment to working with Washington and other partners to safeguard citizens of all faiths.
Joseph Hayab, former chair of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna state, likewise rejected allegations of organised persecution but urged the government to boost security in violence-prone regions.
Shared toll of violence
Nigeria, home to roughly equal numbers of Christians and Muslims among its 220 million people, has endured years of armed conflict. Much of the violence in the north is fuelled by Boko Haram insurgents and by armed groups — often former herders — clashing with farmers over land and resources.
“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 airstrikes and special operations against armed gangs, while Tinubu has recently reshuffled his security chiefs to intensify counter-insurgency efforts.
Analysts blame state weakness
Experts say that while religious-persecution claims are overstated, Nigeria’s inability to punish armed groups has allowed the violence to persist.
“In too many cases, perpetrators have escaped punishment. The impunity is a clear sign of massive state failure,” said Cheta Nwanze, partner at Lagos-based SBM Intelligence.
Adebayo added that unless Nigeria strengthens its response to insecurity, it risks further foreign criticism. “The comments from Washington did not appear in a vacuum,” he said. “They reflect years of inaction.”
