Former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has urged the United States to support Nigeria with advanced security technology instead of making threats that could divide the country.
Reacting to President Donald Trump’s claim that Christians are being massacred in Nigeria, Kwankwaso said insecurity affects all citizens, regardless of religion or ethnicity. “Nigeria is a sovereign nation facing threats from outlaws across different regions,” he posted on X.
Trump had on Friday declared Nigeria a “country of particular concern,” alleging that “radical Islamists” were killing thousands of Christians. He further threatened to cut US aid and deploy troops if the Nigerian government failed to act, saying he had instructed the “Department of War” to prepare for action.
Kwankwaso advised diplomatic engagement instead of confrontation, urging Nigeria to appoint special envoys and ambassadors to strengthen ties with Washington.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu dismissed Trump’s claims, affirming that his administration upholds religious freedom. “The portrayal of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,” Tinubu said, reiterating that the country remains a democracy committed to protecting freedom of belief.
