Nigeria has firmly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims of a “genocide” against Christians, calling the accusations unfounded and politically motivated, even as Trump hinted at possible U.S. military intervention in the West African nation.
Speaking on Sunday, Trump said he was considering “a range of military options” — including deploying troops or launching air strikes — to stop what he described as “mass killings of Christians” in Nigeria. “They’re killing Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We’re not going to allow that to happen,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One.
When asked if he would send U.S. troops or order strikes, Trump replied, “Could be, I mean, a lot of things — I envisage a lot of things.”
Nigeria pushes back on US claims
Officials in Abuja swiftly dismissed Trump’s remarks, insisting that violence in the country is not religiously motivated but part of a wider struggle against terrorism and banditry.
“We are not proud of the security situation that we are passing through, but to go with the narrative that only Christians are targeted — no, it is not true. There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria,” said Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesman for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an interview with Al Jazeera.
He added that attacks by Boko Haram and al-Qaeda-linked militants affect Muslims, Christians, and traditional worshippers alike. “The killings were not restricted to Christians alone. Muslims are being killed. Traditional worshippers are being killed… The majority is not the Christian population,” he said.
Nigeria warns against any violation of sovereignty
While reiterating Nigeria’s willingness to cooperate with international partners, Ebienfa cautioned that any U.S. intervention must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty.
“We are ready to work with partners to fight terrorism, but not any passive action that will undermine the sovereignty of our country,” he said.
Daniel Bwala, an adviser to President Bola Tinubu, echoed the sentiment, telling Reuters that Nigeria “would welcome U.S. assistance as long as it recognises our territorial integrity.”
Despite Trump labeling Nigeria a “disgraced country,” Bwala downplayed the remarks, saying, “We don’t take it literally, because we know Donald Trump thinks well of Nigeria. I am sure by the time these two leaders meet and sit, there would be better outcomes in our joint resolve to fight terrorism.”
Background
Trump’s comments came a day after Washington reinstated Nigeria on its list of “Countries of Particular Concern” for alleged violations of religious freedom — alongside China, North Korea, Russia, Myanmar, and Pakistan.
Nigeria, home to more than 200 million people, is almost evenly split between a predominantly Muslim north and a largely Christian south. The country has faced insurgencies from Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) for over 15 years, leading to tens of thousands of deaths and mass displacement.
President Tinubu, a Muslim married to a Christian pastor, has rejected allegations of religious persecution. He emphasized that his administration promotes inclusivity, citing his recent appointment of a Christian as Nigeria’s new defence chief as proof of his commitment to balance and equality.
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