Trump’s Nigeria Military Action: Nigeria unsettled as concerns are raised over Nigeria’s sovereignty
Amid ongoing killings and insecurity in Nigeria, Donald Trump threatened military action in Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians in the country.
A few days ago, the president of United States of America. Donald Trump, redesignated Nigeria a ‘country of concern’ amid alleged killings of Christians in the country.
While the Nigeria government rebuffed the claim, Trump’s pronouncement has illuminated cracks in national sovereignty, security failures, and religious tolerance in the country.
Reaction from Mr. Dolapo Oyedokun, a political communication scholar in the United States with knowledge in terrosism and counter-terrorism, noted that Trump;s threat should serve as a wake-up to Nigerian government, a prompt, by Trump, already accepted by the Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Islamic cleric Sheikh Gumi, on the other hand, called on President Bola Tinubu to “invite the U.S. ambassador,” adding that “they either retract their threats or we sever
diplomatic ties with this irresponsible regime”, while the Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, stated, “We honestly think that President Trump should immediately strike against these terrorists.”
Howbeit, also reacted is former Military governor of Ondo State, Chief Olabode George: “This is not a good development…It will further worsen our economy and make the ongoing hardship even more severe.”
George also rejected Trump’s claims of religious persecution as bereft of realistic ground.
“I can volunteer to take the American Consul in Nigeria around to show him that Christians and Muslims coexist peacefully in several parts of the country,” he said.
“This is contrary to the damaging propaganda some politicians are spreading.”
On Saturday va his Truth Social platform, Mr. Trump also stated that his directive to the Pentagon to gear for a possible military invasion of Nigeria was targetted at cyrbing what he called the “persecution and massacre of Christians in Nigweia.”
According to a statement in fiery rhetoric, President Trump issued a warning that “if the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-ablazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.
“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians!”
This Trump’s assertion followed shortly Nigeria was designated a “country of particular concern,” built on the notion that Nigerian government has failed to haly attacks and tyranny against the citizenry, most especially Christians.
Reacting to the threat, president Bola Tinubu, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, rebuffed trump’s claim, adding that “Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it. Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.”
The spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, reiterated that Nigeria remained committed to defending all her citizens “irrespective of race, creed or religion,” adding, “Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength.”
However, Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth amplified Trump’s order, stating: “The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
But President Tinubu has proposed a round-table dialogue with the United States to exchange views on counterterrorism tactics and move to end insecurity in Nigeria.
The Presidency stated that Tinubu had already directed the new service chiefs to boost operations against terrorism, insisting that “Nigerians want no more excuses but positive results.”
According to the Special Adviser to the President on policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, President Trump and President Tinubu might meet soon to discuss a way out of the current situations.
Meanwhile, opinions remain divided at home. Speaking on Arise Television, security analyst Captain Umar Aliyu said the bandits “operate as if they have a score to settle,” adding: “There is a conspiracy of silence. They (the Federal Government) have drone pictures but failed to engage them.
“They don’t attack them until they attack people. They live in the forest like kings and make demands. Something is going on between them; we need to ask my Commander-in-Chief.”
Analysing the development from a security Perspective, Brig-Gen. Sani kukasheka Usman (rtd), ex_Director og Public Relations of the Nigerian Army, issued a warning that if the United States President Donald Trump’s were authentic, it would pose grave diplomatic, security and internal stability implications for the country.
While raising concern over Nigeria’s capability to withstand any pressure by the US, he said: “This shift would likely complicate ongoing operations against insurgent groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and various bandit and kidnapping networks.
“Furthermore, the situation could also strain the vital intelligence and military cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, a collaboration that has been instrumental in providing intelligence sharing, training, and logistical support in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.
“A breakdown in this partnership might weaken the country’s operational effectiveness and diminish its capacity to respond swiftly to emerging threats.”
He further expressed fear and concern that there might be collateral damage if the United States fulfilled its threat, warning that the adverse effects could be grave and might deteriorate religious relations between both Christians and Muslims in the country.
“Such tensions,” he noted, “could erode social cohesion and provide fertile ground for radical groups to exploit grievances and recruit followers. The rhetoric of ‘genocide against Christians’ could also inflame religious polarisation within Nigeria, deepening mistrust between faith communities, amplifying extremist narratives, and possibly sparking religious conflict.”
On the diplomatic front, Usman said Nigeria would face the difficult task of countering misinformation, defending its sovereignty, and reassuring both domestic and international stakeholders of its commitment to religious freedom and human rights.
He stressed that the government should prioritise strategic communication and robust diplomacy to utilise perception and hold on to international credibility.
“Such rhetoric poses a serious threat to peace, security, and cohesion, fuelling internal divisions, weakening coordinated security responses, and politicising religious identities. This, in turn, would make it significantly harder for Nigeria to live in peace and effectively combat terrorism, banditry, and extremism.”
Trump’s Threat A ‘Wake-Up Call’ ─ Oyedokun
Nigerian United States-based expert Dolapo Oyedokun described Nigeria’s as rigid, comprising several armed groups and the uphill of curbing terrorism.
“Of course, the US has a vested interest in global security and stability, and its engagement on this issue is not surprising.
“The recent statement by US President Trump, calling for the Nigerian government to take immediate action, has sparked a response from the Nigerian government and the citizens at large.
“Although the issue is described as genocide against Nigerian Christians, terrorists, herdsmen, and other bandits have invaded mosques, kidnapped schoolchildren, raped women, and attacked police and military bases. President Trump’s reaction to this is coming at the right time,” he explained.
Oyedokun claimed that both military and nonmilitary measures against terrorism are yet to achieve desired results, adding that more efforts needed to be put in place.
In August, last year, Kawu Baraje, former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), added a twist to the insecurity crises, blaming its genesis on the large inlux of Fulani migrants from neighbouring African countries like Sierra Leone, Mali, Senegal, Chad and Niger.
He made a shocking revelation by stating that bandits were brought into the country in 2015 for election purposes. Baraje also commended the South-West governors on resorting to self-help, through Sunday Igboho; in his assertion, he claimed that the federal government had failed to carry out its primary responsibility by protecting lives and properties of the citizens.
Nigeria Must Cut Diplomatic Tie With The US ─ Gumi
Reacting to President Trump’s threat to invade Nigeria, Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has made a call on President Bola Tinubu to firmly act the United States over Donald Trump’s proposed invasion of Nigeria.
According to the cleric, in a post on his verified Facebook account, Gumi called Trump’s remark a disrespect to Nigeria’s sovereignty and implored the feferal government to act swiftly.
“For Trump to threaten a sovereign country with military attack is a profound disrespect to our authority, but we can rise above it,” he wrote.
He stressed the Mr. Tinubu should invite the US ambassador to demand a retraction, issuing a warning that not doing so must mean a diplomatic untie.
“President Tinubu should summon the US ambassador; they either retract their threats or we sever diplomatic ties with this irresponsible regime,” Gumi stated. He further urged Nigeria to seek alternative partners for its economic and military development. “There are lots of other options for our economic expansion and military alliance,” he added.
‘Make Good Threat’, Bomb Terrorists In Forests ─ HURIWA
Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), said the US President Donald Trump should ensure his threat is a good one by bombing the terrorists, adding that, howbeit, such military operation should be solely targetted at Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other terrorist groups operating across the forest in the Northern states.
“We believe that the Nigerian government has failed to show decisive action against terrorists, and this lack of commitment to eradicate them is the reason Turji Bello and several other terrorist masterminds declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters are still in firm control of their territories across the North-West.
“We honestly think that President Trump should immediately strike against these terrorists, but we do not support regime change, which does not follow constitutionally allowed processes such as periodic elections.
“HURIWA believes that what has emboldened the terrorists to escalate their attacks against Christians is the fact that Nigeria is headed by both a Muslim President and a Muslim Vice President, while all other strategic ministries like Defence are also led by Muslims,” the group said.
HURIWA further alleged that the Federal Government’s refusal to acknowledge what it described as “genocide” against Christians in Plateau, Benue, Taraba and Southern Kaduna states stemmed from the silence of ministers who, being Muslims, “pay little or no attention to it.”
“The ministers of foreign affairs and information are Muslims, and these two are shaping the Federal Government’s narrative against the reality of persistent and targeted attacks on Christians in the Middle Belt, HURIWA said.
“The USA should also consider providing technical assistance to the Nigerian military to eliminate terrorists, especially those who have openly declared their intent to wipe out Christians in Nigeria, such as Boko Haram, ISWAP and the Lakurawas, among others. The current administration has failed to defeat them decisively due to politics and indecisiveness.”
George, Sani Pan Aside Trump’s Persecution Claim
Former Military Governor of Ondo State, Chief Olabode George and Civil Right activist Senator Shehu Sani have discredited President Donald Trump’s remark describing Nigeria as a country of concern over alleged persecution of Christians.
They both issued a warning that such a remark could destroy Nigeria’s image abroad, impede foreign investment and deteriorate economic hardship should President Bola Ahmed not respond quickly through diplomatic dialogue with Washington.
Chief George, who is a retired Navy Commodore, implored president Tinubu to delegate ambassadors quickly to strengthen Nigeria’s international presence and advocacy, noting that the non-existence of diplomatic representation had birthed precarious misconstruction about the country.
“The absence of diplomatic representations for Nigeria is part of the issue creating misconceptions about our nation,” George said.
“I wonder why this government has refused to appoint ambassadors.”
He warned of the economic and security consequences of the US designation, suggesting it could encourage other world powers to adopt similar stances or even take unilateral action against alleged terrorist cells in Nigeria.
“This is not a good development,” he said. “It will further worsen our economy and make the ongoing hardship even more severe.”
George also rebuffed Trump’s claim of Christian persecution in Nigeria.
“I can volunteer to take the American Consul in Nigeria around to show him that Christians and Muslims coexist peacefully in several parts of the country,” he said.
“This is contrary to the damaging propaganda some politicians are spreading.”
He implored President Bola Tinubu to inaugurate high-level delegation of esteemed statesmen to dialogue with Washington, warning that inability to do so might weaken investors’ confidence in Nigeria.
“Foreign investors may become more cautious, interpreting Washington’s action as a sign of instability,” he added.
“Development aid and security cooperation could also be scaled back, weakening counter-terrorism operations that depend on American technology and intelligence.”
George went on to criticise APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticked, stressing that it could be the rationale behind Trump’s assertion.
He described Trump’s claim as baseless and void of reality, citing that there has not been any evidence of genocide or politically motivated persecution of the Christians.
“The comment describing Nigeria as a country of particular concern is founded on false, misleading and mischievous narratives,” Sani said.
“In the last fifteen years, terrorists and bandits have targeted and killed both Muslims and Christians. Muslims have, in fact, suffered more casualties because of the regions where those terrorists operate.”
He noted that the US Envoy in Nigeria had already challenged the genocide narrative being promoted abroad, and said Trump’s advisers had clearly misinformed him.
“Given Nigeria’s religious demographics, persecution is technically impossible,” he said.
“Terrorists attack mosques and churches alike; they kill Imams and pastors, and kidnap Muslims and Christians. We are all victims confronted by a common danger.”
Sani further nailed US legislative proposals made by Senator Ted Cruz proposing sanctions on people enforcing Sharia and blasphemy laws in Nigeria, describing them as “a direct and unjust attack on the ethos, culture and sensitivities of Nigerian
Muslims.”
“Nigeria is an independent country,” he said.
“No foreign leader should dictate how Nigerians choose to govern themselves or practise their religion. If the US cannot sanction Kuwait, Qatar, or Saudi Arabia for similar laws, why should Nigeria be treated differently?”
He added that the US, despite its claims of championing freedom, had been clamping down on dissent and online speech domestically.
“Declaring Nigeria as a country of particular concern is unconscionable and unacceptable,” he said.
“Mr. Trump should help Nigeria combat terrorism, not threaten or dictate to us.
“Those within Nigeria who export lies for political gain should reflect on the consequences of their actions. You cannot stain your country and expect the world to honour you.”
