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By : Seye Olumide, Gbenga Salau, Kehinde Olatunji (Lagos), Leo Sobechi, Terhemba Daka, John Akubo, Johnson Eyiangho (Abuja), Lawrence Njoku (Enugu), Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna), Murtala Adewale (Kano) and Rotimi Agboluaje (Ibadan)
Date: 3 November 2025 5:30am WAT
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President Tinubu (insert Trump)
• Gumi urges Nigeria to cut diplomatic ties with U.S.
• Tinubu may meet Trump, says Presidency aide Bwala
• Analysts: U.S. threat could disrupt terror fight, strain military cooperation
• Trump’s move a ‘call for urgent action’ by Nigeria, says U.S.-based expert
• Lagos APC condemns calls for invasion, describes proponents as ‘traitors’
• Kwankwaso seeks US support with technology, not war threats
• HURIWA wants Trump to ‘make good threat’, bomb terrorists in forests
A threat of military action by United States President Donald Trump over the alleged persecution of Christians has sharply divided Nigeria’s leadership.
While the government rejected the claim, the move has exposed sharp fractures over national sovereignty, security failures, and simmering religious tensions.
Stakeholders, like Mr Dolapo Oyedokun, a political communication scholar based in the United States with expertise in terrorism and counter-terrorism, said Trump’s threat was a call for urgent action by the Nigerian government, a call already acknowledged by the Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Others like Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, for instance, called on President Tinubu to “summon the U.S. ambassador,” stressing, “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, declared, “We honestly think that President Trump should immediately strike against these terrorists.”
However, respondents, like former Military Governor of Ondo State, Chief Olabode George, said, “This is not a good development…It will further worsen our economy and make the ongoing hardship even more severe.” George also dismissed Trump’s claims of religious persecution as lacking a factual basis.
“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.”
Trump had announced on Saturday via his Truth Social platform that his directive to the Pentagon to prepare for a possible military invasion of Nigeria was aimed at halting what he described as the persecution and massacre of Christians in the country.
In a statement laced with fiery rhetoric, Trump warned 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-a-blazing,’ 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!”
The US leader’s position, coming shortly after Nigeria was designated a “country of particular concern,” was reportedly based on claims that the Nigerian government had failed to curb attacks and tyranny against citizens, especially Christians.
Reacting, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, rejected Trump’s assertions, stressing that “Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it. Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.”
Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa reaffirmed that Nigeria remained committed to defending all 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 reinforced 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.”
The Tinubu administration has indicated plans for dialogue between both governments to exchange views on counterterrorism strategies and efforts to curb insecurity. The Presidency said Tinubu had already directed the new service chiefs to intensify operations against terrorists, reiterating that Nigerians expect “no more excuses, but results.”
Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, suggested that both leaders might meet soon to discuss Nigeria’s security situation.
Analysts warn U.S. threat could disrupt terror fight, strain military cooperation
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.”
Brig.-Gen. Sani Kukasheka Usman (rtd), former Director of Public Relations of the Nigerian Army, warned that if United States President Donald Trump’s threat were genuine, it would have grave diplomatic, security, and internal stability implications for Nigeria.
Analysing the development from a security perspective, Usman said the threat could disrupt the country’s counter-insurgency efforts and other internal security operations by diverting attention and resources from domestic stability to external defence and diplomatic engagements.
While doubting Nigeria’s capacity to withstand such pressure, he stated: “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 expressed concern that there could be collateral damage if the US carried out its threat, warning that the consequences could be grave and might worsen relations between 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 added that the government must engage in strategic communication and robust diplomacy to manage perceptions and maintain 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 ‘call for urgent action’ by Nigeria, says U.S.-based expert
Oyedokun described Nigeria’s security situation as complex, involving multiple armed groups and the challenge of tackling 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.
The US-based expert lamented that both military and non-military measures against terrorism had yet to achieve the desired results, stressing that more needed to be done.
Former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kawu Baraje, added a political dimension to the insecurity crisis in August last year, blaming its origins on the influx of Fulani migrants from neighbouring countries such as Sierra Leone, Mali, Senegal, Niger and Chad.
He shocked Nigerians when he claimed that the bandits were brought into the country for election purposes in 2015. Baraje also supported the self-help initiatives of South-West governors, saying that responses such as those of Sunday Igboho to the herdsmen menace were necessary since, according to him, the Federal Government had failed in its primary responsibility to secure lives and property.
Gumi urges Nigeria to cut diplomatic ties with U.S. over Trump’s threat
Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has called on President Bola Tinubu to take firm action against former United States President Donald Trump over his alleged threat of military action against Nigeria.
In a post on his verified Facebook page yesterday, Gumi described Trump’s remarks as an insult to Nigeria’s sovereignty and urged the Federal Government to respond immediately.
“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.
The cleric advised the government to summon the US ambassador to demand a retraction, warning that failure to do so should result in a diplomatic break.
“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.
HURIWA urges Trump to ‘make good threat’, bomb terrorists in forests
The Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said former US President Donald Trump should make good his threat to bomb terrorists, stressing, however, that such military action should be specifically directed at Boko Haram, ISWAP, and terrorist groups operating in the forests of Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara 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.”
According to the group, “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.
“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 dismiss claims of Christian persecution, seek urgent diplomatic response
Former Military Governor of Ondo State, Chief Olabode George, and civil rights activist Senator Shehu Sani have criticised President Donald Trump’s comments describing Nigeria as a country of concern over the alleged persecution of Christians.
The duo warned that such remarks could damage Nigeria’s image abroad, deter foreign investment and deepen economic hardship unless President Bola Tinubu responds swiftly through robust diplomatic engagement with Washington.
George, a retired Navy Commodore, urged the President to appoint ambassadors immediately to strengthen Nigeria’s international presence and advocacy, saying the absence of diplomatic representation had created dangerous misconceptions 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 dismissed Trump’s claims of religious persecution as lacking a factual basis.
“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 urged President Tinubu to send a high-level delegation of respected statesmen to engage with Washington, warning that failure to act could further erode investor confidence.
“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 criticised the Muslim–Muslim ticket of President Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima, suggesting it could be one reason the United States believes Christians are being targeted.
Senator Sani described Trump’s declaration as “false, divisive and mischievous,” insisting there was no evidence of genocide or state-sponsored persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
“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 criticised US legislative proposals by Senator Ted Cruz seeking sanctions on individuals enforcing Sharia and blasphemy laws in Nigeria, calling them “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.”
Tinubu may meet Trump as Nigeria rejects US claim of religious persecution
Special Adviser on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, has indicated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may meet with United States President Donald Trump in the coming days, saying both leaders share a commitment to combating insurgency and terrorism.
Bwala, in a statement yesterday, said Trump had earlier supported Nigeria by approving the sale of arms to strengthen the country’s counter-terrorism operations, which President Tinubu has “fully maximised with massive results to show.”
His remarks followed a post by Trump on his Truth Social platform on Friday, where the US leader claimed Christianity in Nigeria faced an existential threat and listed the country as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged killings of Christians.
Responding on his X handle, Bwala said any disagreement over whether terrorists in Nigeria target only Christians or people of all faiths would be clarified when both presidents meet, either in Abuja or Washington. He added that such discussions would enhance global cooperation against terrorism.
This development came as President Tinubu dismissed what he described as a mischaracterisation of Nigeria’s religious environment. He argued that such claims ignored his administration’s efforts to safeguard worshippers of all faiths.
Lagos APC condemns calls for U.S. invasion, describes proponents as ‘traitors to the flag’
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned calls for a United States military intervention in Nigeria, describing the idea as “delusional” and “the height of treachery and emotional bankruptcy.”
In a statement yesterday, the party’s spokesman, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, said such calls were being promoted by a faction of “politically frustrated loudspeakers” seeking relevance after electoral defeats. He accused them of spreading falsehoods and misinformation abroad to damage Nigeria’s image and gain sympathy.
Oladejo said the calls for foreign intervention were not acts of patriotism but “weaponised bitterness masquerading as activism,” contrasting them with President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to stabilise the economy and restore security.
“To even daydream about a United States invasion of Nigeria is not only delusional; it is the height of treachery and emotional bankruptcy,” he said. “Any Nigerian who prays, whispers, types, retweets or amplifies the fantasy of foreign military intervention is not an activist: they are traitors to the flag and enemies of the Republic.”
He accused opposition figures of exporting their grievances abroad through “coordinated demarketing and deliberate misinformation,” claiming their goal was never democracy or good governance but to “tarnish Nigeria’s global image because Nigerians rejected them at the polls.”
According to him, the resulting foreign misperceptions and reckless commentary were the “rotten fruits” of that propaganda. Oladejo added that Nigeria’s sovereignty would not be surrendered, saying the country would “survive and outlast those who seek to destroy it.” He concluded: “You cannot blackmail your way to power through slander, hysteria and foreign sympathy. Nigeria will not collapse to massage anyone’s defeated ego.”
Farounbi warns Trump’s threat could damage Nigeria’s global image, investor confidence
A former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr Yemi Farounbi, has cautioned that the recent threat issued by United States President Donald Trump could undermine Nigeria’s global reputation, discourage investors, and weaken the country’s counter-terrorism efforts.
Speaking yesterday in an interview with The Guardian, Farounbi said Trump’s remarks, if not swiftly addressed, could portray Nigeria as an unsafe and unstable nation.
“Trump’s threat can certainly diminish our status in the world. It could mean that investors will not consider Nigeria a safe country to invest in. It could mean that visitors and tourists may consider Nigeria as not safe,” he warned.
He noted that such diplomatic tension could deprive Nigeria of intelligence and weapons needed to fight terrorism. “America used to share intelligence and information with Nigeria about global terrorism. It may deny us legitimate access to purchase sophisticated weapons, as happened during the Goodluck Jonathan administration when Nigeria resorted to the black market. A private jet was even seized in South Africa on one of such missions,” he recalled.
The former envoy warned that similar strains could once again isolate Nigeria and hinder military support, adding that “radical Fulani militias are becoming more devastating than Boko Haram and ISWAP.”
To prevent further damage, Farounbi urged the Federal Government to engage the United States with facts and credible data. “We need to engage Trump and the U.S. Government actively with facts, if we have them, to contradict the conclusions believed by Trump,” he said.
He stressed that diplomatic engagement must be matched with effective internal action, saying: “Results are better in our present circumstances to demonstrate our will to decimate terrorism and guarantee security to all Nigerians.” Farounbi called for “appropriate, positive and active diplomacy at all levels” to protect Nigeria’s image and restore international confidence.
Lamido urges diplomacy, unity in response to Trump’s threat
Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has expressed deep concern over the reported threat against Nigeria from former United States President Donald Trump, describing it as “ominous” and capable of unleashing severe consequences.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Lamido called on Nigerians across political and ethnic divides to unite in defence of the nation’s sovereignty, warning that the situation demanded solidarity rather than division.
“The threat of war on Nigeria from President Trump of the United States of America, under whatever guise, is very ominous. The consequences of such action cannot be imagined,” he said.
Lamido urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to “swallow his pride” and urgently convene a closed-door meeting with all former leaders and heads of state to deliberate on the development and find a common response.
The former governor said past presidents and heads of state were in a strategic position to engage Washington and President Trump through quiet diplomacy, outside the media, to defuse tensions and address underlying concerns.
He cautioned that Nigeria could not afford delay, stressing that “unity, wisdom, and diplomacy must prevail over division and pride at this critical juncture.”
Intersociety hails U.S. designation of Nigeria, says 11 govs freed from ‘Sultanate plotters’
The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has said the designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” by former United States President Donald Trump has “unchained” 11 governors from the South-East and South-South regions from what it described as “Sultanate plotters” in the country.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, and two human rights lawyers, Joy Igboeli and Chidimma Udegbunam, the group yesterday said it was glad that the governors, particularly those of the South-East, had been “freed and led out of the gate of Rijana Forests’ Jihadist Hostage Camps.”
The group alleged it was “factually aware that those governors are gagged, tormented and threatened by the Sultanate plotters to give away and compromise territorial, personal, physical and property security in return to be allowed and protected to serve as governors of their respective states for eight years.”
Citing a 2024 declassified government statistic, Intersociety claimed that of about 11,129 mapped forests in Nigeria, “not less than 1,000 are presently occupied by Islamic Jihadists and various violent entities across the South-East and South-South.” It said the number of such incursions rose from 48 in 2018 to about 1,000 by December 2024.
The organisation also alleged that the Federal Government, in connivance with some governors, was establishing “artificial Fulani livestock ranching communities” in indigenous areas. It said some states were being offered up to N60 billion to release forestlands for cattle ranching.
Intersociety urged the governors to reverse communal lands allegedly ceded to “external interlopers” and return them to their rightful owners or risk being listed among “bootlickers.”
Akiolu advises Trump to seek accurate information on killings in Nigeria
The Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu I, has said former United States President Donald Trump may have been misinformed about the security situation in Nigeria, following his claim of a “Christian genocide” in the country.
Speaking during a press briefing to mark his 82nd birthday yesterday, Oba Akiolu said Trump’s comments likely stemmed from intelligence reports that did not reflect the full reality on the ground.
He urged the former US president to verify the true state of affairs, noting that both Christians and Muslims have been victims of the ongoing violence in the country.
The monarch expressed optimism that Trump would reconsider his stance if presented with accurate and comprehensive information about the killings, which he said affect people across all faiths.
Kwankwaso urges U.S. to support Nigeria with technology, not war threats
Former Kano State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has reacted to former United States President Donald Trump’s reported war threat against Nigeria, urging Washington to offer technological assistance instead of military intervention.
Responding via a post on X, Kwankwaso said Nigeria did not deserve a military threat from the US, stressing that terrorism in the country affects people of all ethnic and religious backgrounds.
“It is important to emphasise that our country is a sovereign nation whose people face different threats from outlaws across the country. The insecurity we face does not distinguish based on religious, ethnic, or political beliefs,” he said.
He added that what Nigeria needs from the US is “better and cutting-edge technology” to combat terrorism, not actions that could worsen national divisions.
“The United States should assist the Nigerian authorities with better cutting-edge technology to tackle these problems, rather than posing a threat that could further polarise our country,” he said.
Kwankwaso also urged the Federal Government to appoint special envoys and permanent ambassadors to engage with American authorities, describing this as a vital step toward strengthening diplomatic ties and finding solutions to insecurity.
“To my fellow countrymen, this is an important moment where we should emphasise unity of belonging over division. God bless Nigeria,” he added.
Majekodunmi-Oniru urges Trump, others to back Nigeria’s democratic renewal
Advocate of food governance, Princess Olatorera Majekodunmi-Oniru, has appealed to former United States President Donald J. Trump and the international community to support Nigeria’s democratic development and principled global engagement.
In an open letter, Princess Majekodunmi-Oniru responded to recent remarks describing Nigeria as “a disgraced country,” acknowledging the nation’s governance challenges but stressing that its struggle is rooted in issues of justice and humanity, not religion.
“The greatest contribution the United States and its allies can make at this pivotal moment is to support the genuine democratic emergence of visionary, credible, and people-centred Nigerian leaders; not the preservation of a kleptocratic status quo that has entrenched poverty, division and despair,” she wrote.
She urged international partners to empower integrity and merit rather than corruption and coercion, noting that Nigeria’s stability was essential for Africa and the world.
“Only through principled engagement and unwavering support for democracy can Nigeria’s citizens rebuild their nation in peace and dignity, free from the devastation of renewed conflict,” she said. Princess Majekodunmi-Oniru expressed hope for continued dialogue and cooperation in advancing shared global values and inclusive progress.
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