•Cut ties with US if Trump fails to withdraw military threat – Gumi
The Nigerian Presidency has confirmed that President Bola Tinubu will hold a meeting with United States President Donald Trump in the coming days to address allegations of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, following Trump’s recent public threats of military intervention.
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Policy Communication, disclosed the planned discussions in a post on X on Saturday.
According to Bwala, the talks will focus on counterterrorism cooperation, clarification of misconceptions surrounding recent security challenges in Nigeria, and ongoing efforts to protect citizens of all faiths.
Bwala wrote: “Both President @officialABAT and President @realDonaldTrump share a mutual interest in combating insurgency and all forms of terrorism against humanity.
“President Trump has assisted Nigeria by authorising arms sales, which have been effectively utilised in the fight against terrorism, with tangible results.”
Trump’s warnings, expressed on social media last weekend, included a threat to suspend US aid to Nigeria and prepare military options if attacks on Christians continued.
He had also declared Nigeria a “country of particular concern” and tasked the Pentagon with mapping potential military responses.
Nigerian authorities, however, have strongly rejected the claims, emphasising that violence in the country affects both Christians and Muslims.
“The geography of violence largely determines who becomes the victim,” said Taiwo Hassan Adebayo, a security analyst at the Institute of Security Studies.
Daniel Bwala added that Trump’s statements were based on outdated reports from over a decade ago, when Boko Haram insurgency was at its peak.
The upcoming Tinubu-Trump talks aim to resolve differing interpretations of ongoing security challenges, and to strengthen bilateral cooperation on counterterrorism.
“These discussions will clarify any misconceptions and reinforce the partnership between our two nations in ensuring the protection of communities across Nigeria,” Bwala said.
Security experts note that while Trump’s threats are forceful, Nigeria’s government insists that unilateral military action is not permissible under international law and that sovereignty must be respected.
Former Christian Association of Nigeria chairman, Joseph Hayab, welcomed the meeting, stating that while the government has work to do in securing conflict-prone areas, “claims of systematic persecution of Christians are inaccurate and misleading.”
President Tinubu has replaced several security chiefs in recent weeks to bolster operations against insurgent groups and armed gangs.
The Nigerian military continues targeted airstrikes and special operations to neutralise violent actors, while the government maintains that efforts to ensure the safety of all citizens, irrespective of religion, remain a top priority.
Meanwhile, Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take a firm stance against United States President Donald Trump, following his threat of possible military action against Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians.
Gumi, in a statement on Sunday via his verified Facebook page, described Trump’s warning as a direct assault on Nigeria’s sovereignty and called on the Federal Government to summon the US ambassador to demand a public retraction.
“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 added, “President Tinubu should summon the US ambassador; they either retract their threats or we sever diplomatic ties with this irresponsible regime.”
The cleric also advised the government to explore other global partnerships for military and economic cooperation, stressing that Nigeria “has options beyond the United States.”
