The Presidency of Nigeria, under President Bola Tinubu, has appealed to the United States to provide military assistance to combat terrorism in Nigeria rather than labeling the country a “Country of Particular Concern.”
The President’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, made the appeal on Saturday, responding to the U.S. designation. Onanuga stated:
“Dear Secretary Rubio, there is no ongoing slaughter of thousands of Christians in Nigeria. This is a gross exaggeration of the Nigerian situation. What we do have are sporadic attacks by bandits and terrorists, which are not targeted at any particular religion. Christians, Muslims, churches, and mosques are all affected randomly. What Nigeria needs from America is military support to fight these violent extremists, not a designation as a nation of particular concern.”
The Nigerian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, also dismissed allegations by U.S. President Donald Trump of large-scale killings of Christians in the country as “inaccurate and not reflective of reality.” The statement reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to fighting terrorism, promoting interfaith harmony, and protecting the rights of all citizens.
President Trump had announced the U.S. designation on his social media platform, citing concerns over the “existential threat” facing Christians in Nigeria and directing lawmakers to investigate the situation.
Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has repeatedly raised concerns over violence against Christians, particularly in northern states, calling for urgent government intervention. U.S. lawmakers, including Rep. Riley M. Moore, have also urged the U.S. State Department to take action over what they describe as “systematic persecution.”
Nigeria, however, continues to reject claims of targeted killings, emphasizing ongoing efforts to address insecurity and terrorism across the nation.
